the Love of the Truth was the chieâ Motive of their Change This Inconvenience might have been prevented by some Foundations for promoting Learning and Piety and erecting up Schools Colledges and Places for the Retirement of the Learned who had served the Church a certain time or were fitter for Writing than Preaching 2 Calvin chancing to light upon Geneva established there a Form of Ecclesiastical Government very suitable to a Common-wealth but not at all to a Kingdom The French Protestants however set up the fame amongst them which was pardonable enough during the Persecution since they had not the Means to keep up Bishops and that they had been more exposed than simple Ministers both because of their Dignity and their Opposition to the Roman Prelates But when God had given them a Protestant King who conquered a good part of his Realm with the Dint of his Sword when so many of the Bishops and Nobility resorted to Henry IV 't is a wonder that his Presbyterian Ministers never thought of submitting to the Prelates provided the Prelates would submit to the Truth 3. Thence arose another Evil for there being no Means of Subsistence for Dignitaries amongst the Reformed no not so much as an honorable Recompence for the Learned after the Separation was made very few came over to them out of the Roman Church and a greater Number of their Ministers was seduced to the Popish Tenets 4. To cheat People of their Money the Monks had invented or adorned with fabulous Stories the Doctrine of Purgatory and made them believe at the saââ time that they might redeem themselâ either with Money or painful Satisfactioâ which the Reformers perceiving drove perhaps too forwardly the Doctrines absolute Predestination and free Grace Tâ subtil Controvertists of the Roman Churââ let not slip this Occasion of ridiculing thâ Adversaries and traduced them as Enemâ to good Works and such as overthrew ãâã Moral of the Gospel These Accusatioâ how false soever they were being set up ãâã able Pens were sufficient to amuse the Vââgar and to hinder them from opening thâ Eyes to see the gross Errors of Popeâ which in the mean time were not urged 5. It 's well known that there has beeâ pretended Holy League in France for maiâtaining the Roman Catholick Religion aââ that the Dukes of Guise were Chieftenaââ and Promoters of it but they who haââ not read the Books of those Times are ãâã so well acquainted with the Artifices thâ used to draw in so many of the Nobilitâ They perswaded them that the Huguenââ were Commonwealth-men who intendâ to subvert the Kingdom and dismember ãâã into several petty Principalities and Repuâlicks just as their Brethren the Switzers ãâã the Free Towns and Princes of Germanâ By these Insinuations great and aspiriââ Men who cannot make considerable Foâtunes under a weak Government stuck close them 6. As to the last Persecution of the French âââtestants as it has been long and in a âânner insensible during Thirty or Forty âars but at the latter end extreamly cruââ sudden and unfore-seen so it could ãâã be prevented either by any Forreign âwer or any Insurrection within The ââench Cardinals and Jesuits no less cruel ââd cunning than the Wolves of the Fable ââok from the Reformed their Places of âârety seduced their great Men invaded âeir Priviledges and fell upon Dragoonâg them when they were disarmed and âât of state of making any Defence But will smart them I hope before it be long âor besides that God never left such a perâiousness unpunished they are so far ââom having extirpated the Reformation at they have spread it farther by mingling ââe Protestants amongst them And any one âay easily suppose that during the Separatiân the Reformed had not so many fair Occaâons of instilling into them a secret Horror ââr superstitious Practices as they have now And let this suffice to the First Part of âur Description I had resolved to follow ãâã the Second Part the ordinary Division âf France in Twelve Governments but âânce I considered that this Method would âe troublesome both to me and my Readers and perhaps make me overskip some of thâ Countries included in the general Goverâments Besides that there are now Nineteeâ and not Twelve of them so that I thought more convenient to begin at one End ãâã with Lorrain then pursuing my way Nortâwards to make the Grand Tour of Francâ and go out of it through the County ãâã Burgundy than to puzzle my self and âthers with unnecessary Bounds and Divâsions However I will not fail to maâ the Extent of each Government and thâ Countries belonging to it A DESCRIPTION OF FRANCE PART II. WHEREIN âach of its great Provinces smaller Counties Cities Towns Royal Houses Forests Mountains Coasts Rivers and Lakes are Geographically and Historically described CHAP. I. LORRAIN the Three Bishopricks and the Dutchy of BAR. THIS Province is called thus from Lothaire Grand-Son of Lewis the Meek Emperour and King of France who was Soveraign thereof when it was far greater and bore the Name of Kingdom The whole Dutchy belongs now to thâ King of France who has usurped the greaâest part of it upon Charles III. the true Sâveraign and forced him to make over ãâã Right to him The present Bounds of thâ Province are Elzas and the Palatinate oâ the East Champaign on the West Luxeâbourg and the Electorate of Triers on thâ North and the County of Burgundy on thâ South The Inhabitants are Warlike anâ the Country for the most part covered witâ Woods and Forests yet well stock'd witâ Corn Vines and Minerals nor does it waâ pleasant Rivers and good Waters It s Town are well built strong and rich NANCY the Capital of Lorrain was the ordinary Residence of the Dukes whose Courâ was crouded with great Numbers of Nobilitâ and Gentry It was here that those Princes Riches made a fine Sight especially two Tables of a great Length and Breadth one Marble the other Silver-gilt or washed over witâ Gold with several Figures and Emblems and Latin Verses most artificially engraveâ upon them There were also costly Hangings and the Effigies of a Man in Wood whose Muscles seemed to move and werâ interwoven with so much Art that it waâ a perfect Wonder The Dukes Tombs arâ likewise here amongst which that of Renatus who overcame the Burgundians is moââ considerable that of Charles Duke of Buâgundy is there also The Arsenal was well provided with all Necessaries and its Fortifications seemed to render it impregnable before the French took it There is a Bog or fenny Place pretty nigh the Town in the midst of which is a Cross of Stone with an Inscription in French that marks the Defeat of the Burgundians under Charles the Rash their last Duke An. 1477. The Town is situated about an hundred Steps from the Meurte which discharges it self into the Moselle four or five Miles from thence Nancy is divided into Old and New Town the Old has the Palace of the Dukes
Linnen and Leather and of its excellent Knives call'd also by the Name of the Country Coutaux Pergois The Inhabitants having rebell'd against the English the Count of Salisbury took it and caus'd many of them to be hang'd but the French King Charles VII retook it in 1449. It lyes 30 leagues South-west of Paris and almost 22 North-west of Orleance Mortagne Moritolium or Moritonium near the source of the Huisne 8 leagues North-west of Nogent le Rotrou is a goodly Town well peopled and adorned with several Churches It has a Castle and had formerly the Title of a County Perriere is now of little consideration having been ruin'd by the Wars âeâme Bellismum or Bellissimum sup Castruâ is seated on a Brook that encreases the Huifââ la Ferte-Bernard and has near it a Mines Fountain as much esteem'd as those of Pougâ and Forges The States of the Province use ãâã be kept in this Town which has the first Voââ and is distant 6 leagues from Nogent le Rotrou ãâã the South-west The Barony of Pontgouin belongs to the Bâshop of Chartres and has several Lordships depending on it Conde sur Huisne Condate ad Egâânam is of some Consideration and lyes 2 leaguâ North of Nogent le Rotrou 2. Perche-Gouet hath 5 Ancient Barronies tâ wit Auton Monmirail Alluye Basoche and Brou 3. La Terre-Françoise consists in the Bailiwick of La Tour-Grise upon the River Aure over against Verneuil in Normandy 4. Les Terres âmembrées have the small Countrey of Timeraââ the Town of Château-neuf and the Principality and Town of Senonches This little Province is about 18 leagues in length and almost as much in breadth It 's very fertile in Corn and well furnisht with Meadows and Pasture-ground which together with their Forrests and the Manufactures formerly mention'd make the Inhabitants subsist Remy Belleau a Lyrick Poet famous in the last Age was Originary of this Province Perche hath a dependance upon the Generallty's of Orleans and Alençon as to the Court of Exchequer on the Parliament of Paris for secular Justice and for the Spiritual it resorts to the Bishops of Chartres and Seez It had its âarticular Counts the most Ancient of whom âs named Agombert or Albert in the time of Louis le Debonnaire in the IX Century But âhey were call'd Counts of Bellesme Alençon or Mortagne and the first who took the Title of Count du Perche was Rotrou II. in 1149 that Country having been before of too little Consideration to give Title to a great Lord. Of Beauce DU Val and several other Geographers comprehend under the Name of Beauce Belsa or Belsia several small Countries as the Territory of Chartres le pais Chartrain that part of Gastinois which is annexed to the Government Orleanois besides Vendosmois Dunois Puisaye proper Orleanois Sologne and the Southern part of Blaisois which make up an extent of 35 leagues North and South from Dreux to Remorentin and above 50 leagues East and West from the borders of Champaign and Burgundy to the Frontiers of Maine being included with Berri and Nivernois on the South Perche on the North Maine and Touraine on the West and Champaign and Burgundy on the East These Countries taken together consist in large and fruitful Plains so very abundant in Corn that they are call'd the Granary of France The Learned Adrian de Valois following Ancient Authors gives to this Province an extent of 15 leagues and divides it into three parts Belsa Carnutensis le pais Chartrain Belsa Dunensis or Dunois Belsa Pitiverensis the Election of Pithiviers To avoid confusion I shall speak first of the County of Chartres or Pays Chartrain which is call'd by some Proper Beauce THis Country is situated between the Isle of France Perche Blaisois and Orleanois The City of Chartres call'd in Latin Autricum Carnutum from the River Autura Eure on which it lyes has a Presidial Seat and Bishoprick formerly suffragan of Sens and now of Paris since the Year 1622. This City is so Ancient that some Authors believed that the Issue of Gomer having pass'd into the Gauls some time after Noah did lay the Foundation of it Others maintain that the Druides and Sarrhonides the Ancient Priests of the Gauls did build it and foretold that a Virgin should one day grow big with Child without the Company of a Man It was this which obliged Prisâns Governour for the Romans to erect a Temple to that Blessed Virgin with this Inscription Virgini Pariturae or to the Virgin who is to bring forth Thus it was that they ador'd at Athens an unknown God But whatever be of it the People of this Countrey made a long and bold Resistance to the Romans kill'd one Tasgetus tho' he was of the Royal Blood of their own King's because Caesar had set him over them and after that great Conqueror had subdued them he was glad that they would accept of the Alliance of the Romans and keep their Peace The Bishops of this City are thought to be of very Ancient Institution for Solemnis who informed K. Clovis in the Christian Religion is reckon'd its 14 Prelate by Duchesne At least 't is probable that under the French Kings of the first and second Race they were Lords Temporal as well as Spiritual of it if what the same Author relates be true that one Elias the 40th Bishop gave the Revenues of the Abby of S. Pere en Vallée to the Nobility of Chartres and that Hardwin the 50th Prelate was the first who Dismember'd the County from the Bishoprick to enrich a Nephew of his call'd Odo or Eudes I know not whether his Posterity forfeited their Estates but Hugh the Great Father to Hugh Capet the first French King of the 3d. Race being then very powerful in that Kingdom gave this Country together with those of Blois and Tours to a Kinsman of his call'd Theobald the Old or the Tricker His issue in process of time viz. in 1037. acquired the County of Champaign and had been the greatest Lords in France had they not weak'ned themselves by the Portions they gave to Youngest Sons In 1286. Lewis IX bought the County of Chartres from Jane of Chatillon the Heiress of it It has been since united to the French Crown and separated from it several times and now it makes part of the Portion of Monsieur Lewis XIV.'s Brother his Eldest Son bearing the Title of Duke of Chartres This City and Country have under gone several Revolutions for at the end of the sixth Age Thierry K. of Burgundy took it by Storm from his Brother Clotaire In 743. Hunold Duke of Aquitain took Chartres and burn'd it Francis I. erected it into a Dutchy in Favour of Madam Reneâ of France Dutchess of Ferrara Anno 911. Rollon chief of the Normans besieged it and Anno 1019. it was almost quite burnt down Anno 1568. the Protestants laid Seige to it under the Reign of Charles IX and would certainly have taken it the Admiral
Secular Clergy freed these from all Episcopal Jurisdiction and Innocent III. granted them this vain Priviledge that their Abbot might take upon him the Title of Cardinal of St. Priscus In 1563. the Protestants being Masters of this Town broke down the Images and it having since followed the League the French King Henry IV. took it by Storm in 1569. and caus'd Maillé Benehard the Governour and a Franciscan Fryer to be Executed forgiving the rest of the People In this Town there is a very ancient Castle a Colledge of the Fathers of the Oratory and some Religious Houses It is distant from Paris about thirty two Leagues to the South-West Peter Ronsard a Poet famous in the last Age was Originary of Vendomois in which I find no other considerable Places but Mântoire and Ville aux Cleres Of Anjou ANjou Ducatus Andegavensis hath Maine on the North Brittany on the West Poictou on the South and Touraine on the East This Province is about 30 Leagues in length 20 in breadth It aboundeth with great Quarries of Slate wherewith most of their Houses are covered and even oft employed by Masons instead of Stones There are reckoned about 36 or 40 Rivers whereof the principal are the Loire the Sarte the Loir the Mayenne the Dive the Vienne the Couesnon the Oudon the Authion the Tonay the Layion the Eure the Guinate and such a number of Lakes Ponds Brooks and Fountains that several believe the Name of Anjou to be derived from that of Aiguade Du Chesne rejects this Conjecture as impertinent but when I consider that most of the Names of Countries have a reference to their situation that the Gascons who in their vulgar Language have preserv'd many ancient Gaulish Words call a River Gave that the Romans named the Inhabitants of Anjou Andicavi or Andegavi and that the Celtick Speech had a great affinity with the Teutonish I am apt to look on the Name Andegavi as a word compounded of three An-degaven In the Brooks to denote Men inhabiting a Country wash'd with many Rivers However it be this abundance of Water makes the Riches of Anjou both by a vast quantity of sweet Fish and the great number of Gardens and Meadows they make therewith fruitful This Province is partly Champian and has many Woods and Forrests where abound Stags Hinds Bucks Does Hares and all sorts of great and small Game and partly mountainous and cover'd with Vineyards that produce as delicate Wine as any in France most of which together with their Brandies and those of Orleanois are transported along the Loire to Nantes and thence into Forreign Country for Brittany has none or but very little of its own This Country is divided into higher and lower following the Course of the River Loire Anger 's is in the lower and Saumur in the higher The other most considerable Towns are la Fleche Montreuil-Belley Chateau-Gontier Beaufort en valée the Dutchies of Brissac Beaupreau Brezé Vaujour le Lude the Marquisates of Jarzay Bellay Touarcé the Counties of Monsoreau Maulevrier the Barrony of Craon c. the Abbies of Fontevraut and Borguéil the Castle and Convent of Verger c. The ancient Inhabitants of Anjou call'd in French Angevins and in Latin Andes Andi Andecavi or Andegavi had their own Commanders afterwards the Romans and since them the Kings of France and those of England enjoy'd it In 861. the French King and Emperor Charles the Bald bestow'd the Countries included betwixt the Seinâ and Loire upon Robert the Strong Duke and Marquess of France on Condition that he should defend them against the Incursions of the Normans But the Posterity of Robert having obtain'd the very French Crown for his two Sons were Crown'd Kings viz. Eudes in 898. and Robert in 922. and his great Grand-son Hugh Capet began the third Race of the French Kings the Issue of Tertulle or Terculf to whom the same Charles had given some part of Anjou were accounted sole Counts of it during part of the Ninth the Tenth and the Eleventh Century They grew so potent and famous that Fulk V. became King of Jerusalem in 1131. and Henry Plantagenet Son to Godfrey III. Count of Anjou and le Mayne succeeded in the right of his Mother Mathilda to the Crown of England under the Name of Henry II. His Son Richard I. surnam'd Lions Heart enjoy'd likewise these Counties but they were Confiscated upon his Brother K. John by Philip August whose Successors gave them since several times in Portion to their Sons The French K. John erected Anjou into a Dutchy in 1360. in behalf of his second Son Lewis who became afterwards King of Naples and Sicily Count of Provence and Titular King of Jerusalem Charles the last of that Family instituted K. Lewis XI his Universal Heir and ever since this Province has been an Apannage or part of the Portion of the second Son of the French Kings as it is now enjoy'd by Philip Duke of Orleance Lewis XIV's Brother The City of Anger 's or Juliomagus Andegavorum Andegavae or Andegavi is situated on the River Mayenne after it hath receiv'd the Sarte and the Loire It 's the Capital of this Province having divers Seats of Justice Presidial Seneschalship Bailiwick Election a Mint where Money is coyn'd at the Letterâ an University and a Bishoprick suffragan to Tours It is seated in a Plain very fertil producing delicate Fruits and very good Wine the River Mayenne divides it into 2 parts whereof the greatest which is call'd the City lyes on the steep of a little Hill where the Church of St. Maurice and the Castle of Anger 's are to be seen This Church which is the Cathedral is distinguished from all others by 3 high Steeples raised up on the body of the Church the middle of which being built on an Arch and underpropt only by the two others is accounted a Marvel On solemn Days are shewn the Relicks as the Sword of St. Maurice one of the pretended Pitchers wherein our Lord chang'd Water into Wine said to be brought from Jerusalem by Renatus K. of Sicily and resembling a Jasper Here is the Tomb of this Prince whose Body was brought hither from Aix in Provence as also his Picture drawn by himself The Chapter of the Cathedral is composed of 29 Canons a Dean a great Archdeacon a Treasurer an Arch-deacon beyond the Mayenne an Archdeacon beyond the Loire a Singer two other Treasurers and a Penitenciary This City has been beautify'd and encreas'd from time to time by its Counts but especially by our King John who built that part which lyes now beyond the Mayenne some surname it the Black City because its all covered with Slates Anger 's is much resorted unto at a Festival which the Roman Catholicks call La-Fete-Dieu the Feast of God Then you may see all the Priests and Monks and 4000 Inhabitants bearing as many kindled Torches and withall as many engraven Histories of the Holy Scripture as there are Wards in the
Proper Guienne GVienne Proper Burdigalensis Ager lies between the Ocean on the West Gascogne and Bazadois on the South Agenois and Perigord on the East and Xaintonge on the North. This Country is less plentiful in Corn then VVine amongst which that of Grave is remarkable and is transported every where by Sea the Soil is not toward the Coasts like in the little Counties of Medoc and Buch. There are chiefly to be taken notice of Bourdeaux Libourne Blaye Lespares Rions Cadillac c. The City of Bourdeaux Burdigala or Burdigala Biturigum Viviscorum who seem to be a Colony of the Bituriges Cubi or Berruyers lies upon the Garonne It has an University a Parliament and an Archbishop who entitles himself Primate of Guienne Clement V. decided the priority in his behalf against that of Bourges because he had been Archbishop of the former though the right of Primacy belongs to the latter It is one of the finest greatest and most trading Cities of the Kingdom seated in a fruitful ground Ausonius speaks thus of it Burdigala est natale solum clementia Coeli Mitis ubi rigua larga indulgentia Terrae Ver longum Brumaeque breves juga frondea subsunt c. It s Haven is very famous it is called the Haven of the Moon because it has the Figure of a Crescent Bourdeaux is likened to a Bow of which the Garonne is the String they reckon 15 Leagues from this City to the Sea and the Fare called La Tour de Cordouan which is very remarkable and is the Work of Lewis of Foix an able Engineer The University has been very flourishing King Charles VII restored it to its luster the Pope Eugene IV. gave it great Privileges and Lewis XI increased them S. Jerome and Ausonius speak of the great Men it has brought forth both for Learning and Piety Libourne is upon the Dordonne at its conjunction with the River Lisle 7 Leagues from Bourdeaux to the North-East Near this Town rises a Mountain of Water which the Inhabitants call the Mascaret of Bourdeaux at the very time that the Waters are most calm it is formed in a trice and runs a great way along the River overthrowing all the Boats it meets with It 's said that the River Pegu in the Kingdom of Martaban now depending on the Emperour of Siam has still more violent fââs Blaie Blavia or Blavutum lies upon the Gironde 7 Leagues down from Bourdeaux Northward and 4 Leagues from the Bec d'Arnbés where is the confluence of the Garonne and Dordonne The Country about Blaye is called le Blaiguez Blaviensis pagus Of Bazadois Bazadois Ager Vasatensis lies between Propeâ Guienne on the North and West the Landes on the South and Agenois on the East 't is a Country pretty fruitful in Corn VVines and Fruits There are chiefly Bazas Bish the Capital La Reole whether the Parliament of Bourdeaux was once transferr'd 12 or 14 years ago Castelgeloux Nerac Genissac Caudrot Buzet Castelnau de Mames c. BAZAS Cossio Vasatum or Vasatae is a City near the Source of the Lavassane or Vassanne with a Seneschal's Court and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Auch It is seated upon a Rock whose bottom is watered by that little River in a Country full of Woods and sandy Grounds almost 4 Leagues North of the Garonne and 11 North-East of Bourdeaux under 44 Deg. 24 Min. of Lat. and 19 Deg. 54 Min. of Long. St. John the Baptist has the Cathedral Church dedicated to his Name and Sextilius is accounted its first Bishop Of Agenois AGenois Borders upon Armagnac to the South to Querci to the East on Perigord to the North and Bazadois to the West This is the most plentiful Country of Guienne and supplies many Provinces with Corn Wine and Oyl of Nuts It s call'd in Latin Pagus Aginnensis The Places of more note are Agen Bish Villeneuve Aiguillon Tonneins Clerac S. Foy c. The City of Agen Aginnum Nitiobrigum lies upon the Garonne with a Presidial and Seneschalship and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux It was the chief City of those ancient Nitiobriges that were so considerable among the Gouls and the true Founders of this City without ascribing to it any fabulous original This City is great and populous Of Quercy QVERCY Pagus Cadurcinus lies betwixt Languedoc on the South Rouergue and Auvergne on the East Limosin on the North and Perigord and Agenois on the VVest its extent from South to North is above 30 Leagues from Montauban in Languedoc to Turenne in Limosin 20 East and West from Mont-murat near Cadenac to Pestillac near Villefranche in Perigord which are its greatest length and breadth This Country is pretty fruitful in Corn Wines Fruits and Pastures There is a great Trade of Plums Saffron and good VVool. Its Inhabitants brought in formerly about 12000 Men in the League of the Gauls against the Romans Querci is divided into upper and lower the upper called Causse contains the Valleys that are along the River Lot the lower or Villes basses is extended along the Aveirou This Province belongs to the Government of Guienne though it depends on the Parliament of Toulouse and the generality of Montauban which has under it 3 Elections viz. Cahors Montauban and Figeac Querci was annexed to the Crown in the beginning of the Reign of Philip the Bold as being the Inheritance of the Counts of Toulouse In 1306. Philip the Fair did covenant with Raimond Paucholi Bishop of Cahors for the right of Peerage allowing him to take the title of Count. The most remarkable Places of Quercy are Cahors Bishop The Capital Gourdon Moissac Figeae Lauserte Montratier Montpesat Souillae Martel Cadenac c. CAHORS Cadurcum or Divona Cadurcorum has an University a Seneschal's Court and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourges It lies upon the Lot in a Demi-Island which is formed by that River which has three Bridges of Stone and is very useful to the Inhabitants for several Manufactures It is rais'd upon a steep Rock where was formerly a Cittadel James Ossa Bishop of Frejus afterwards a Cardinal and Pope under the name of John XXII was born in this Town where he Founded in 1331. an University to shew his Love towards his own Country which has had famous Professors It s Cathedral Church is dedicated to S. Stephens and if we believe fabulous Authors it was consecrated by S. Martial himself there are many other Churches and Monasteries with a College of Jesuits since 1605. Cahors lies 42 Leagues East of Bourdeaux Gourdon is 8 Leagues from Cahors Northward Moissac lies on the River Tarn which soon after looses it self into the Garonne with a Seneschal's Jurisdiction 17 Leagues from Cahors to the South and 6 Leagues from Montauban to the West It is a very ancient Town that has often been ruined for the Goths took it from the Romans and King Clovis took it again from the Goths afterwards it was seiz'd by Gaiges Duke of Aquitain and retaken by King Pepin in
Limosins In Caesar's time the Limosins brought in 10000 Men for the Confederacy of the Gauls against the Romans This People is now adays ingenious prudent laborious and saving they have given 5 or 6 Popes to the Church Limosin is divided into Upper and Lower the chief City of the first is Limoges of the second Tulle The Principal Rivers are the Dordonne the Vienne the Vezere and the Upper Vezere c. The City of Limoges Ratiastum and Le Movicae is seated partly on the top of a little Hill and partly in a Valley upon the River Vienne surrounded with good strong Walls and deep ditches a Gaulish Prince as 't is pretended built it and gave it his name it has much suffer'd in divers times by the Goths French and English Under King Charles V. the Lord High Constable du Guesclin took it from the English in 1371 and the Prince of Wales retook it a little while after by storm where 4000 People fell a Sacrifice to his wrath but the French King got it again soon after The Cathedral is under the name of St. Stephen whose first Bishop St. Martial is accounted to be tho with little proofs There are three considerable Abbeys of St. Austin S. Martial and S. Martin and several other Monasteries with a Presidial and a Generality This Town has had its Hereditary Viscounts who were Sovereigns of the whole Province Many Councils have been held there Limoges lies near the borders of la Marche 34 Leagues North of Cahors and 19 North-East of Perigueux TVLLE Tutela Castrum is watered by two Rivers Courreze and Soulane 15 Leagues South-East Limeges the Abbey of St. Martin was erected here to a Bishoprick by Pope John XXII in 1318. of which Arnold of St. Astier was the last Abbot and the first Bishop Its Prelates are Viscounts and Lords of the Town There is a Presidial and an Election this is the Country of the ancient Family of Gardia There are also to be noted the Viscounty of Turenne Brive la Gaillarde Vserche a strong Town the Dukedom of Ventadour Roche-Abeille famous for a Fight in the year 1569. St. Hivier S. Junian Chalus considerable for its Markets of Horses Aix renowned in that Country for the excellent Bread that is bak'd there Preige-buffiere the first Barony of Limosin Of Perigord PERIGORD Pagus Petrocoricus Borders to the East on part of Quercy and Limosin to the North Angoumois to the West on part of Xaintonge and Guienne properly so called to the South on Agenois and part of Quercy it lies betwixt 44 Deg. 38 Min. and 45 Deg. 30 Min. of Latitude and betwixt 20 Deg. 30 Min. and 22 Deg. of Longitude which makes 24 Leagues North and South from the Source of the Droune to the Barony of Biron near the Source of the Drât and 26 East and West from Sarlat to Roche-Chalais 'T is a rough stony and mountainous Country but for all that pretty fruitful There are many Medicinal Springs and some Mines of Iron and Steel it is divided into Upper and Lower Perigord the first called Blanc or White because of its Mountains 't is North-West betwixt the two Venzeres and the other that was South-East along the Rivers l'Iles and Dordonne is called Noii or Black because of its Woods There are abundance of Wall-nuts Chest-nuts several sorts of Simples and Wine in some places this Province since the declining of the Monarchy had particular Counts till Lewis XII who gave them other Lands in exchange and which the French King Henry IV. annexed to the Crown The City of Perigueux call'd at first Vesunnae Petrocoriorum and afterwards Petrocorii or Petrocori by the name of its ancient Inhabitants is the chief of the Upper Perigord and of the whole Province lies upon the River l'Isle with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourdeaux of which it's distant 28. Leagues to the North-East It is a very ancient City yet not so ancient as to have been founded by one of Noah's Sons as some would have it it has often been ruined by the incursions of Barbarians In 768. Pepin le Bref or the Short got near that Town a famous Victory over Gaifer Duke of Aquitain St. Front was its first Bishop its Cathedral under the Name of St. Stephen was much defaced during the Civil Wars The most considerable places are besides Perigueux and Sarlat Beaumont Bergerac Roche-chalais Brantosme Ville-Franche de Perigord Montignac on the Vezere in whose Castle the ancient Counts of Perigord used to reside Montpont the Head of a small Country call'd the Conquest betwixt the Rivers L'Isle and Double and the Village of Mucidan Castillon on the Dordonne 9 Miles East of Libourne and 25 North-East of Bourdeaux where our English General Talbot who had maintained the Wars many years with a handful of Men against all the Power of Charles VII was at length routed in 1451. At Miremont is to be seen a subterraneous Cavern or Den that reaches very far under the Ground At la Douzé a Burrough and Marquizate betwixt Montignae and Miremont is made the best Paper in the Country Hautefort Bourdeilles and Exidueil have also the Titles of Marquizates Riberac that of a County Mareuil Bainac and Biron are ancient Baronies and La Force which gives the name of Dukes to an illustrious Protestant family is the finest House in Perigord Of Saintonge SAINTONGE and corruptively Xaintonge Pagus Santonicus c. Sarlat Sarlatum and Sarlatium Capital of Lower Perigord and more especially of a small Country thereabouts call'd Pagus Sarlaticus Le Sariadois lies on the source of the Nea 2 Leagues North of the Dordonne and but one from the Borders of Quercy There was an ancient Abbey of Benedictins chang'd by Pope John XXII in 1317 into a Cathedral Church of which Raimond of Roquecor was the first Bishop This Town has a Seneschal's Court and is strong by its situation for it maintained two Sieges during the Civil Wars of the Princes in 1652. Santonicus Borders upon Angoumois and Perigord to the East on Poictou and the Country of Aunis to the North on the Ocean to the West and on proper Guienne to the South it lies between 19 Deg. 5 Min. and 20 Deg. 53 Min. of Longitude and between 45 Deg. 5 Min. and 46 Deg. 20 Min. of Latitude which makes about 34 Leagues East and West from Roche Beaucourt and les Fontaines to the Bay call'd Pertuis of Maumusson and 32 North and South from the Sevre Niortoise to very near the Save in proper Guienne This Country is very plentiful in Corn Wine Pastures Saffron good Fish and above all in Wormwood and Rosemary that have particular Virtues A great quantity of good Salt is made upon the Coast and it is a common saying that were France an Egg Xaintonge would be the Yolk of it its principal Rivers are the Garonne the Charante the Seudre c. which are very convenient for the Carriage and Transportation of Commodities The City of SAINTES or Xaintes Mediolanum Santonum
Italian Poets ascribe to their Troubados or Trouveres the invention of Rythm'd Poetry and they make still indifferent good Rythms in their Country Language The Protestants have not been veây many in PROVENCE since the barbarous Murther committed on the Vaudois of Merindol and Cabrieres When I liv'd there that is 15 years ago they had but 7 or 8 Churches which are since destroy'd with all the others of France In those days they already complain'd of their exorbitant Taxes with a very expressive Proverb Lou Languedoc is ruinad La Prouvence es accoumencade The ruin of Languedoc is finished and that of PROVENCE is begun but now I believe they have but little reproach one another PROVENCE is divided into Upper and Lower The Upper lies on the North side of the River Durance Verdon and Esteron nearer to Dauphiné and the Lower on the South side along the Sea-coast but lest I should forget some part of it I shall treat of each Diocese after one another and begin with Aix the Capital Of the Diocese of AIX THis Diocese is included betwixt those of Marseille Arles Apt Riez Frejuls and Toulon and is the biggest of all reaching 26 Leagues East and West from beyond Cotignac near the Diocese of Frejus to the Plains of la Crau and about 10 North and South This Country was anciently inhabited by the Salians Salyes Salyi or Saluvii and 't is in this Territory that C. Marius gave a total overthrow to the Cimbres killing 150000 of them The City of AIX Aquae Sextiae or Aquensis Civitas is within a Musket-shot of the little River Arc 5 Leagues of Provence North a Marseilles It is very Ancient Caius Sextus a Proconsul carried thither a Roman Colony in 632 of Rome and made the warm Bathes from which it draws its name though the Bathes be not longer in being It is graced with an Archbishoprick a Parliament a Court of Accounts a Court of Aydes the first Seat of the Seneschal of Provence a Generality a Chamber of Mint a Lieutenant General of the great Seneschal of the Province an Ordinary Judge for the Town and another for the King called Viguier besides an University for the Law and Physick it has been plunder'd by the Longobardi and Saracens in the 4th and 7th Centuries The Counts of Provence who lived there did inlarge it but 't is much altered for the better upon all accounts since that time and is one of the pleasantest and best built Cities in France S. Saviour is the Metropolis where is a high Hexagon Tower to be seen the Font is of an admirable Structure and all of white Marble supported by fufile Columns round about like a Dome The Chappel of our Lady of Grace is very rich and that of S. Maximin very Ancient and Holy The Chapter consists of a Provost an Archdeacon a Capiscol a Sexton a Penitentiary and 15 Canons there are also some Incumbents or Prebendaries and a most delicate Musick two other Parishes viz. S. Magdalen and the Holy Ghost divers Monasteries and a College of Jesuits S. Maximin above 9 Leagues East of AIX is the Seat of a Baily but much more famous for a pretended S. Ampulla and the Body of S. Mary Magdalen said to be kept here in a Collegiate Church serv'd by Dominican Fryers Many amongst us would rather chuse the Case than the Relick for the Case is all of pure Gold being the figure of a Woman held up by two Angels and Crown'd with a golden Crown enriched with Diamonds whereas the Relick may be for ought I know the Skeleton of some old Bawd Nine Miles South West of S. Maximin lies in the midst of a thick wood the Cavern of la S. Baume where the Legendaries say that S. Mary Magdalen passed 33 years in a retir'd and penitent life after she was arriv'd thither from Palestina in a rotten Ship without any Pilot in company of Lazarus S. Martha and Cesidonius pretended to be that young Man Born blind whom our Saviour cur'd This Cavern is spacious being near 500 Foot high and the Rock wherein 't is digg'd is all of white Marble The place belongs to the Diocese of Marseille Brignole Brinonia so famous for its Pluims is likewise the head of a Bayliwick as also Barjols or Barjoux The other places of note are Esparonde de Pallieres Rians Tonques S. Paol Sambuc Peyroles Lambese Pelissane Alencon Aguiles Fuveaux Peinies Trets Porrteres Torrevez La Val Carces a County Cotignac and Foz Of the Diocese of Riez THis mountainous and small Country borders upon the Dioceses of Aix Apt Sisteron Senez and Frejus and is water'd by the Verdon It was the habitation of the ancient Albici Reii Segoregii or rather Segoreii who from the Worship of Apollo were sirnam'd Apollinares Their Capital Alebece Reiorum Apollinarium is ancienter than Aix which as it has been observ'd was a Roman Colony whereas this City seems to have been built by the Natives who before that time did often wage War with the Salians and Massilienses It is a little Town well built seated on the Source of the Auvestre almost 16 Leagues North East of Aix The Bishop is Lord Temporal of it and the second Suffragan of Aix The Cathedral is dedicated to our Lady The famous Semipelagian Faustus Rejensis was Bishop of it There have been found many ancient Inscriptions The most considerable places are La-Palu where is the famous Hermitage of S. Maurin Monstiers a Bayliwick Pymoisson Valencole Allemagne Montpezat Of the Diocese of SENEZ THis Country is also very mountainous and small and water'd by the Verdon It 's included betwixt the Dioceses of Riez Sisteron Digne Glanderez Vence Grace and Frejus This Diocese made part of the Province call'd Maritim Alps and was anciently inhabited by a People nam'd Vesdiantii by Ptolomy and Vendiantii Cemenelii by Pliny so that there was another Bishoprick Cemenelium which is perhaps Castellane The City of SENEZ Sanitium Vesdiantiorum Civitas Sanitiensium or Sanitio is very small and little inhabited its Bishop is Suffragan of Ambrun it is seated betwixt Mountains on the source of the Asse It s Prelate resides now at Castellane upon the Verdon The Chapter that was of the Order of S. Austin was made Secular by Innocent X. in 1647. it is composed of a Provost an Archdeacon a Sexton and 5 Canons of which one is Chamberlain The Cathedral is consecrated under the name of the Assumption of the B. Virgin The places of some note are Castellane a Bailywick Colmars Mevoiles Clumeng Lembrusche and Barremes Of the Diocese of DIGNE THis Diocese is one of the smallest and of the least revenue in France bringing hardây 3 or 400 l. to its Prelate and having not âbove 27 Baptismal Churches It lies betwixt âhose of Senez Sisteron and Ambrun It is veây mountainous and water'd by two small Riâers the Issolet and the Bleone It was formerly inâabited by the Bodiontii and Sentii who had DIGNE Dinia or Dina for their
the Mashal de la Force took it Ann. 1634 for the French King Lewis XIII who caused it afterwards to be demolished Its Lordships are Marsal Remereville S. Ballemont Ramberville Homburg Mariemont and Sandacourt Phalzburg has the Title of Principality It is situated at the Foot of the Mountains on the Frontiers of Elzas seven or eight Leagues from Strasburg but is not so considerable as it was formerly Lorrain also comprehends the Dutchy of Bar which reaches to Neuf Chastel or New-Castle whereof the principal Town is Bar le Duc the less considerable S. Mihel a strong Town whose Inhabitants made bold to rebel against King Lewis XIII in behalf of their Duke Charles III. for which some of them were sent to the Gallies after the Year 1633. Then Ligni Moigneville Lon-champ Commercy c. The Mountains of Vauge Vougesi Montes who separate Lorrain from the County of Burgundy and Elzas take up about an hundred Miles in length from West to East and from South to North. Thence springs the Mosell near a Village called Bussans on the Frontiers of Franche-County and Elzas takes its Course towards Remiremont where it receives several Brooks amongst others the Vologne or Voloye increased with the Nany at a Village called Chamery then it goes down to Espinal Chastel Charmes Bayon and Chaligny where the Modon with the Waters of the Illon Vezelize c. discharges it self into it Afterwards it washes Toul and Pont à Mousson and between these two Cities receives the Meurte which comes also from the Mountains of Vauge goes by S. Dioy Raon Luneville Roziere S. Nicolas Then being Increased with several other Rivers washes Nancy and looses it self into the Mosell near the Castle of Condé As to the Mosell it pursues its Course towards Mets where it receives the Seille that seems to issue from a Lake near Marsal then goes down to Thionville and Triers There it is increased with the Sare that springs likewise from the Mountains Vauge near Salms and washes several Places to which it gives its Name as Sarburg Saralbe Sargomine and Sarpruch Finally having made several Windings and Turnings and received some other Rivers it goes to Coblentz and mixes there with the Rhine The Saone takes its Source on the other side of these Mountains which had given the thoughts of digging a Channel to joyn these two Rivers that there might be a Communication between the Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea The Project was begun under the Emperor Nero but was not followed In fine this Dutchy comprehending the Barrois is four Days Journey that is about forty Leagues in length from Stenay to Darnay and near so many in breadth from Bar le Duc to Biche the whole abounding in Wheat Wine and all other Necessaries for Man's Sustenance as in Beasts or Cattle of all Kinds Fish in their Rivers and Ponds Baths that are much esteemed and Salt-pits that are none of the worst It 's also rich in Mines of Silver Brass Iron Tin and Lead and at the Foot of the Mountains of Vauge are found Azure-Stones with some Pearls and the best Stuff in the World to make Looking-glasses of besides Cassidonies of such considerable bigness that Drinking-Cups are made of them Neither Turkey nor the Kingdom of Naples can furnish better Horses than Lorrain nor is there better fresh Water-Fish in the World than its Trouts Salmons Pearches Carps and Tenches are The Carps in a Lake that is fourteen Leagues in circuit are some of them three or four foot long As for the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants they have been observed to be a Mixture of the German and French The People will drink hard are free and open and not as cunning or ingenious as other Nations Yet the Gentry as they are stout and brave so do they likewise pretend to Wit and good Breeding some taking to the German Fashion but a great part living after the French Under their Dukes as they were not overburthened with Taxes and lived pretty rich and easie so they denied themselves no Pleasures or Diversions and Feasts Plays Balls Musick c. were very frequent and in great request amongst them However the Country is still very good and pleasant for Men of Business may imploy themselves in Trafficking and they who neeâ not to take so much Trouble may Hunt Feasâ and rejoyce as pleasantly here as in any other place whatsoever CHAP. II. The Principality of SEDAN and Dukedom of BOUILLON and RETHEL I Put here this Principality because it iâ in my way from Lorrain to Champaignâ though it belongs now to this last Government But before I enter into it I must describe the famous Forest of Ardenne Arduenna Sylva apparently so called because 't is so rugged and craggy and the Ways in some places so narrow that Carters go along winding a Horn to hinder that others should meet with them In Cesar's time it reached from Rheims in Champain to the Rhine and thence to Tournay on the Scheld so that it was extended an hundred and thirty Miles in length fifty or sixty in breadth in some places and covered part of Champaign and Lorrain of Luxemburg and the Bishoprick of Liege and of the Counties of Namur Haynaut and Flanders which are now filled with so many fair Cities Now this Forest has not above forty Miles in length from Thionville on the Mosell in the Dutchy of Luxemburg to Donchery and Sedan The Emperours Charlemaign and Lewis the Meek took a Delight in Hunting there especially in Autumn that they made a Royal Sport of Gaming with great Preparations Sigebert King of Austrasia had built two Abbies in the midst of it which are now in the Neighbourhood This Principality which is but four Leagues in square is included between Champaign Lorrain and Luxemburg It belong'd formerly to the famous Family of the Dukes of Bouillon and Viscounts of Turene well known for their many and great Exploits untill Lewis XIII or rather his ambitious Minister Cardinal Richelieu made bold to deprive them of it in the Year 1642. It 's true they have had some Lands in exchange but they are not to be compared to these either for Profit or Honour were it but for the Title of Soveraignty This Country though it is covered with Woods as I have hinted does not want however a Competency of Corn which makes the Abode both agreeable and cheap The chief Town is Sedan whose Situation is pleasant enough because the Mosell runs by it though of one side it has a Mountain both these with its good Castle render it impregnable It 's said the Platform is so great that 2000 Men might be drawn up upon it and its Magazins so well furnished that few in the Kingdom can equal them The Town is not verâ big and has but three principal Street There was an University that has been foâmerly famous and filled up with greâ Men as Du Moulin James Chappel Le Blaâ and Jurieu nor ought the Professor Tilenâ
Dragon he is said to have ââvercome This History is too remarkable ãâã to be mention'd and tho it be perhaps relââ in a fabulous manner however there must ãâã be something of truth because of a Câââ that is still kept to this day In the Forreââ Rouvray near the Suburbs of Rouen was a Sââ which much annoyed Men and Beasts ãâã Pious Prelate resolved to rid his Citizen ãâã this Monster and as no body was willing to company him he got two condemned Crâânals a Thief and a Murtherer to go aâ with him as soon as the Serpent perceââ them it ran to devour them whereupon ãâã Thief took the flight but the Saint not afrighted threw his stole at the Monsters ãâã which so well twisted it self about it that fettered Monster was forced to follow the ââderer who brought him as a tyed Dog ãâã the great market of the Town where it ãâã burn'd and its Ashes thrown into the ââver It would be uncivil to ask whether the âââminal was pardoned But St. Ouen did ãâã for being Lord Chancellor to King Dagâââ and Successor to St. Romain he obtained ãâã his Master that a Fortnight before Ascâââ ãâã four Canons with their four Chaplains ââould have leave to visit the King's Prisons ãâã supersede all extraordinary proceedings aââinst them to hear their Confessions and ãâã to deliver whomsoever they pleased âhich is performed every year on the said Asââsion day with a great deal of Ceremony ââe released Prisoner is oblig'd to nothing ââe but to appear the seven years next folââwing to accompany the new delivered and ãâã Romains Coffin in a solemn Procession On the great Gate of this Church is a Triââmphal Arch representing the French King âânry IV. driving Lyons and Wolves out of ââs Flock On the other side are the League âând up in Chains and gnawing its Fetters ââd the King of Spain standing near a Bell with âââmournful and Heart-sick Countenance Besides the Cathedral Rouen with its Suburbs ãâã 35 Parochial Churches and 24 Monasteâs the whole Diocess extending it self thrô ââe third part of Normandy and comprehendââg both Vexins all Caux Bray and Roumois ãâã Rural Deanships 1388 Parishes and 26 131 Abbies under 6 Archdeacons The âench King Philip the fair founded there a âourt of Exchequer in 1286. which Lewis ââI made Sedentary in 1499 and Francis I. ââdow'd it with the name and priviledge of a âârliament There are other Courts of Juââce besides that as a Bailiwick and Presidial ãâã Chamber of Accounts a Chamber of the âânt which coyns Money with the Letter B. ââere is a Bridge built upon Boats which is ââk'd upon as a Master-piece of Art because it rises and goes down with the Tide tâ be paved and 270 steps long And thereâ Rouen lyes very conveniently for the ãâã brings into its Key Vessels of 200 Tââ and makes it one of the Richest and most ââding Cities in France Rouen is not only stâââ by its situation but also well fortified ãâã Castles Bulwarks Bastions Rampiers Terrââ âlined with Freestone large Ditches into wââ fall the small Rivers of Robec Aubette and ââânelle after they have passed thro' several ââter-mills It 's uncertain whether the Latin name ãâã Rouen Rotomagus comes from the Idol Rââ or Rothon Worshipp'd there or from the sââ River Rodobeccus Robec so that it should ãâã compounded name signifying the Town oâ ãâã God Roth or of the Red Brook The timâ its foundation and the name of its Fouââ are still more uncertain but sure it is ãâã Rouen was already in Caesar's time the heaââ the Veloicasses that is mention'd by Pââ Ammian Marcellin and the Tables of Theââ the Great under the name of Rotomagus ãâã had formerly an Amphitheatre and thrââââtifi'd places viz. the Palace the Castle ãâã call'd Mount S. Catherine or Fort S. Catââ and the Bridge This City has produc'd ââveral Men of Parts as that great and incoââârable Protestant Divine Samuel Bochart ãâã Learned Emery Bigot who has publish'd ââral Writings of the Fathers amongst othââ the Epistle of S. Chrysostom to Caesarius ãâã Family of Basnage renown'd for Lawyers âââter Corneille the Prince of the Tragick Pâââ among the French Thomas Corneille his Brother âââd Pradon two other Drammatick Poets of ââote Mr. De Fontenelles one of the Wittiest ââriters in France Mrs. Bernard who has ââly carried the Prize of Poetry in the âââench Academy I may well also give a place âââong these Ingenious to Mr. Le Motteux Auââor of the Gentlemans Journal Caux THis Bailiwick North and North-east of Rouââ en is esteemed to be the Land of the Anââent Caletes and is included between the Riâârs Seyne and Bresle Caesar who makes the âââre the limits of the Celtae ranks the Velocassi ââd the Caleti among the Belgae but by the diââsion of August they were included in the ââcond Lyonnoise with their Capital Rotomaââs Adrian de Valois reckons nine Rivers in ââis Countrey viz. the Vitefleur Guitefleda ââe Dun Dunus the Seane or Saane Sedana the ââune Belnaium the Sie or Seye Seda the âârennes Guarenna the River of Dieppe or Arââes Deppa or Arcae the Eaune Heldona or ââna and Alna the Iere Eara which Samson ââlls the Sart and the Ou or Bresle Aucus Through the whole Countrey of Caux the âldest Sons both of the Gentry and Common âeople are Heirs of all and there is but a ââall Portion allow'd for the Sustenance of the Youngest Sons and Daughters which Câââ seems to be deriv'd from the Ancient Nââ mans who used it to maintain the lustre ãâã their Families and to make their Youngââ Sons look to themselves and seek their Fââtune with the dint of their Sword And ãâã perhaps was the Cause they conquer'd Nâstria Caudebec Calidum Beccum that is warm âââvulet because it s built upon a small Brook ãâã mile from the Seyne and three leagues East ãâã its mouth is a Town renow'd for several Mânufactures especially Hats Three leagues West ãâã Caudebec upon another Brook near the Seyââ is the small Town of Lillebonne which is taââ by Sigebert and Ordericus Vitalis for Julâââ Caletorum Capital of the Country of Caux ãâã De Valois denies it Howsoever it gives ãâã its name to a branch of the House of Lorrâââ William the Conqueror call'd thither a Coââcil of the Prelates of Normandy in 1080. ãâã mile South of Lillebonne lyes the Lordship ãâã Tancarville upon the Seyne Tancardi or raââ Tancredi Villa for it seems to have gotten ãâã name from that famous Tancrede Lord of Hââreville who liv'd in the time of Rollon or âââbert I. Duke of Normandy This Nobleman ââving a numerous Family sent into Italy his tââ Eldest Sons Dreux and Fierabras who joynââ with Robert Guischard and some other Nââ man Lords Warr'd against the Saracens ãâã expell'd them out of Sicily their Postenâ setled themselves in that Island conquer'd Cââlabria and Appulia from the Greeks and Tââpoli from the Barbarians and made themselvââ famous during
Coâquests in Italy In the Year 160 from tââ building of Rome Elitovius chief of the Peopââ of Maine and their Prince Belovesus made ãâã Eruption into the North-eastern part of Itaââ whence they drove the Natives and thâ built the Cities of Bresse Verona Trent Câââ Bergemo Mantoua and many others Thus is that the Poet John Baptist Ignatius exprââseth himself in their Favour Cenomanique acres non ignobile semen c. This Province was subject to the Gauls tââ Romans the Francks and the English In tââ middle of the eighth Century Pepin Head ãâã the second Stock of the French Kings gave thâ County with 12 others to his Brother Grisâ or Grippon But the Names of the succeediââ Counts are not known till Hugh I. in 1020. ãâã fell by Inheritance to our K. Henry II. but ãâã confiscated by the French Monarchs upon oâ K. John under pretence of the Murther of Aâthur of Brittany Since that time it has beeâ several times detatched from and reunited âgain to the Crown of France In 1674. Leâââ XIV made bold to give it as an Appanage oâ Portion to one of his Bastards call'd Linââ whom he had got on the Wife of the Marââââ of Montespan bestowing upon him the Tiâe ãâã Duke du Maine and the Charge of Colonel Geâeral of the Switzers The City of Mans or le Mans in Latin Ciâtas Cenomanorum Suindinum or Subdinnum is ââtituted upon the Confluence of the Sarte and âe Huisne having the Title of a Bishoprick ââffragan of Tours It is said that this City was âuilt by Sarrhon Grandson of Samothes K. of the âauls and being afterwards ruined by the Druides ând the Sarrhonides whilst they contested for it ãâã was rebuilt by Lemant King of the Gauls who âive to it his Name However it be for this âccount is look'd upon as fabulous le Mans is ãâã very Ancient City And in Charlemaign's time âas one of the most flourishing in the Celtick Saul but the incursions of the Normans and âhe War with the English have much abated of âs former Grandure It is now built upon a âountain which is raised up high beyond the âirte between the North and the West and as a Bailiwick and a Presidial Seat with a Caââedral Church under the Name of St. Julian âho is esteem'd the first Bishop of it The ârench Kings by a Prerogative of their Crown âe Canons born in this Church It 's observed ââat the English during the Siege they laid to âis City in 1425 were the first who made use âf great Artillery in France Mayenne-la Juhel Meduana has its Name ââom the River Mayenne upon which it is seatâd and from the Lord Juhel who liv'd under âhe Reign of Philip August It lyes not far from ãâã Frontiers of Normandy being distant from le âââs about 18 leagues towards the North-west ãâã a Town very agreeable with the Title of a Dutchy under which Charles of Guise becaâââ so famous during the Wars of the Leagââ whereof he was Head In 1661. Cardinal Mâzarin bought this Dutchy from the Heirs oâ that House to give it in Portion to his Nâââ Hortensia Mancini Marry'd with Armand Charââ de la Porte Duke of Mazarin it had before the Title of a Marquizate Laval or Laval-Guion Vallis-Guidonis is upon the River Mayenne in lower Maine about ãâã or 7 leagues from Mayenne towards the South It has the Title of a County and belongeth tâ the House of la Trimouille it is famous foâ the fine Cloth which is made there as alsâ for a Council which was held there Aââ 1242. La Ferté Bernard Firmitas Bernardi a Barâny is situated upon the River Huisne beiââ distant from le Mans about 9 or 10 leagues towards the East and the Frontiers of Percââ there is a seat of Justice which resorts immediately to the Parliament of Paris It gaââ Birth to Robert Garnier who at the end of thâ last Age before Tristan Mairet and P. Corneilâ arose was accounted the Prince of the Tragiââ Poets amongst the French The Territory âbout this Town is call'd by the Latin Authoâ of the French Affairs Ager Firmitatensis Sablé a Marquizate is situated near the Sâââ between the little Rivers of Vergete and Erââ about 10 or 11 leagues from Mans towards ãâã South-west Beaumont le Vicomte is a fine Towâ with the Title of a Dutchy it lyes upon ãâã Sarte 6 leagues North of Mans and 5 South ãâã Alencon Raoul who was Lord of it Assâââ Anno 1093. at the Translation of the Reliques of St. Julian the first Bishop of Mans. Chateau du Loir a Barony is situated upon the River Loir in the Frontiers of Vendomois distant from le Mans about 8 or 9 leagues to ââwards the South-east There are other places of some Note as Lavardin Villaine-la-Juhel Gesvres Vibray Vassé Ballon and Galerande that are Marquizats Brulon Suze and Belin are Counties Bresseau is a Viscounty and S. Suzanne is a Barony Of the Country of Perche or Le Perche LE Perche hath Normandy on the North ãâã Maine to the West Vendomois and Blaisââ on the South and towards the East it hath Beauce This Country seems not to have beeâ known to the Ancients the reason of which I imagine to be that the middle-part of it was all cover'd with Woods and the borders belonged to the Neighbouring Nations And therefore it was that an Anchoret whom Posterity has since venerated under the Name of St. Avy S. Avitus retsred into these Forrests as into a wide and impenetrable Solitude The Country was yet for the most part Woody at the beginning of the third Race of the French Kings about 700 years ago and call'd for that reason Perticus Saltus the Forrest of Pearches perhaps because it consisted in great part of Fir-trees or other long and even Wood. And you may observe by the reading of the Latin Authors of the French History how they were fell'd down and the Country peopled by degrees which however is still Woody enough It s therefore labour lost to look for its Ancient Inhabitants since there were none for the Ilnelli and the Aulerci Diablintes were an Armoâick Nation who seem'd to have dwell'd the âirst in the Western Coasts of Normandy and the âast on the Southern of Brittany Le Perche is divided into higher and lower âhe higher part is the County and the lower âs call'd Perche-Gouet or rather it 's divided inâo Grand Perche Perche-Gouet from the Name of its Ancient Lords Terre Françoise or French Country and Terres Démembrées or Dismember'd Lands 1. Grand-Perche contains Nogent-le Rotrou Mortaigne Bellesme Perriere the Barronies of Loupe Illiers Courville and Pontgoin Nogent le Rotrou Novigentum Rotroci or Rotroldi so call'd from Rotrou its Founder Count of Perche is seated upon the Huisne where it receives the Ronne and is the Capital of Upper Perche tho' it be commonly accounted a Burrough but one of the finest and richest in France by reason of its Manufactures of Serges
into this City Latins Syrians and Jews proclaim'd his Praises each in his Tongue whether these different Nations were learned Men or foreign Merchants who inhabited or frequented this Town for the sake of Trade I shall not peremptorily determine tho' the latter seems to me the most probable However it be King Phillip the Fair sounded here an University for the Civil Law in 1312. to which Pope Clement the V. added the Cannon Law in thirteen hundred sixty seven The Scholars are divided into four Nations French Germans Normands and Piccards each of which has its particular Officers There are two common and well furnish'd Libraries This City has also undergone the various fate of War We have already seen how it was rid from the hands of the barbarous Attila In 1417. it stood out a long Siege against the English on behalf of the French King Charles VII The besieg'd were so weak'ned and famish'd that they had resolv'd to surrender themselves to the Duke of Burgundy but the English would not allow of it tho' this Prince was their Ally and then in their Army This refusal may be reck'ned one of the chief causes of the Expulsion of the English out of France as it was the fatal period of the progress of their Arms. For as on the one hand it gave a mighty disgust to this Duke one of the most potent Princes in Europe so on the other the French were not loath to make an advantage of it They set up a young Maid a Shepherdess of about eighteen years who pretending a Revelation to raise the Siege of Orleans and bring the King triumphing into Rheims in order to his Coronation so encourag'd their dis-spirited Army and fright'nd the Enemies that she perform'd her promises assisted by the Valour and Conduct of the famous Count of Dunois but perhaps more by the jealousies rais'd between the English and the Burgundians and then by the Civil Wars of the English The Day of the Raising of this Siege which was the Eighth of May 1418. is still kept as a Solemn Festival in Orleans and a Monument of this Victory has been erected on the Bridge of the City It represents the Bl. Virgin with our Saviour in her Arms as ready to be buried on one side lies King Charles VII upon his Knees and on the other the Virgin of Orleans as they call her now Booted and Spurr'd as a Trooper This Maid was call'd Jeanne d' Arc she was a Native of Vaucouleurs in Lorrain but her Family being Nobilitated by the French Kings had their Name chang'd into that of Lys Flower de Luce in memorial of her Services to that Crown During the Reign of Francis II. in 1560. the Duke of Guise under the pretence of the conspiracy of Amboise disarm'd the Inhabitants of Orleans fill'd the suspected Houses with Soldiers and then brought the young King as triumphing into the City And well he might triumph for he had gain'd his point so far as to cause the Prince of Conde to be sentenc'd to lose his Head But the Death of Francis II. forc'd him to alter his Politicks In 1562. the Protestants under the Command of the same Prince of Conde seiz'd upon this place and the Duke of Guise himself was kill'd besieging it However the Roman Catholicks retook it but La Noue one of the stoutest Commanders the Protestants ever had master'd it again five years after In 1588. it declar'd for the Leaguers by the Intreagues of one Rossieux Secretary to the Duke of Mayenn but it submited to the French King Henry IV. in one thousand five hundred ninety four The Name of Orleans comes undoubtedly from the Latin Aureliani by which the Roman Historians after the second Century do call this City There is still however some remains of the antient appellation of Genabum in a nick-name given to such Inhabitants as have not Travelled abroad viz. Guepin which I am apt to take for an abbreviation of Guenapin Genabinus This City is seated on the steep of an Hill on the Northern side of the Loire that washes its Walls and represents almost the figure of a stretched Bow In sight of the Town and the middle of the River is a pleasant Island cover'd with great Trees and Buildings This Island is joyn'd with a Bridge on one side to the Town and on the other to the Suburb of Pontereau This Bridge has 16 Arches and 't is upon it that the Monument of Jeane d' Arc is erected Orleans is large and well built the Streets are broad strait and neat being pav'd with a small square-stone Some of the Markets are fine spacious and overshadow'd with Trees The most Magnificent Churches are the Cathedral of Sainte Croix and the Collegiate of S. Aignan The body of the former is an hundred foot in length sixty in breadth and one hundred and two in depth It has fifty nine Canons and nine Dignitaries the latter has but thirty one Prebendaries whereof eight are dignify d. Both have been much defac'd during the Civil Wars of Religion but the Cathedral was repair'd by Henry IV. There are twenty two Parochial Churches The Town-House has a very high Tower whence the whole City and Suburbs may be discover'd The Chastelet or Pallace of the Justice is also a remarkable Building seated on the River The Town has eight Gates and is fortify'd with a Terrass and surrounded with a Wall defended by 40 round Towers fill'd with Earth Orleans has a Bailywick to which the Royal Seats of Bois-common Chateau-renard Yanville Yevre-le-Chastel La Neufvill-auxe Loges Gien Montargis Clery Meun Baugency Gergeau and Pluviers are resorting that is all Proper Orleanois and a great part of Gastinois But the Generality of Orleans reaches yet farther comprehending all Beauce in its greatest extent that is the Country Chartrain Dunois Vendomois Blaisois Proper Orleanois Gastinois Puisaie and Sologne and having under it the Elections of Chartres Chateau-dun Vendome Blois Baujenci Orleans Pithiviers Dourdan Montargis Gien and Romorantin The Diocess has six Arch-Deaconships whose Titles are Orleans Pithiviers Beausse Sologne Baugenci and Sulli Orleans lies twenty six Leagues North of Paris âwenty nine West of Auxerre and twenty four East of Tours almost in the middle of the Course of the Loire with a Haven very convenient for Trade which is the cause that the delicate Wines its Soil produces and the excellent Brandies that are made here are easily carry'd to Nants and thence Transported into Foreign Countries Gergeau or Jargeau Gargogilum or Jargoilum was an antient and noble Castle and is still a pretty good Town on the South side of the Loire with a Bridge to pass that River belonging to the Bishop of Orleans four Leagues East of that City In 1420. the Count of Salisbury took it for the English but the year following it was retaken by John II. Duke of Alenson and the Virgin of Orleans who made the Count of Suffolk and several other Prisoners to the number of four
has been enjoy'd by the House of Seguier which has given several eminent Magistrates to France amongst others Peter Seguier made Lord Keeper by Lewis XIII in 1633 and then Lord Chancellor in 1635. There is a Stone-Bridge to pass the Loire but it was broken in 1650. to hinder the passage of the Army of the Princes Bâiare Brivodurum Briobodorum or Briodorum is so call'd from a Gaulish word Briva a Bridge over which the Loire is past Here ends the Canal of Montargis that keeps the communication between the Seine and the Loire Near this place it was that the Royal Army and that of the Princes fought in sixteen hundred and fifty It lies two Leagues South-East of Gien Cosne Cona Conada or rather Condate this last being a Gaulish word that signifies Confluence because the Lore receives here the small River of Nozaim after it has water'd Antrain and Donzi Some Geographers place Cosne in Nivernois but it belongs more properly to Beauce since it resorts to the Election of Gien and the Presidial of Orleans from which it 's twenty Leagues distant to the South-East Cosne is renown'd for good Knives St. Fargeau is a Dutchy and Peerdom Erected by Charles the Ninth in 1569. This Town is the Capital of the little Country of Puisaye and lies upon the Loing near a Forest seven leagues North of Cosne and twenty East of Orleans Between Cosne and Briare seven Miles from each lies upon the Loire the Burrough of Neuvi which seems to have been formerly a considerable Town since Caesar who gives it the Name of Noviodunum design'd to have besieg'd it had he not been prevented by the Surrender of the Inhabitants Aimoin calls it Novus Vicus upon which the French name of Neuvi has undoubtedly been fram'd The other places of Note resorting to this Election are Blesneau Ozouer on the Trezee Chatillon on the Loire Bonny St. Amand in Puisaye all depending on the Bishop of Auxerre for the Spiritual and the Generality and Bayliwick of Orleans for the Temporal Of Nivernois NIVERNOIS Nivernensis Pagus has Gastinois Puisaye and Auxerrois on the North the Dutchy of Burgundy on th' East Bourbonnois on the South and Berry on the West It 's Figure resembles a round somewhat flatted and irregularly bent being of the same length and breadth viz. above twenty leagues North and South from Tizy upon the Loire to Clamecy on the Yonne and as many East and West from Chateau-Chinon to La Guierche It 's subdivided into eight smaller Countries namely the Valley of Nevers upon the Loire the Amognes on the Nieure the Valleys of Montenoison the Vallies of Yonne the Moruan the Bazois the County between the Loire and Allier and the Donizois The whole abounding with Wood Pasture-Ground and Cattle being water'd with many Rivers besides the Loire the Allier the Yonne and the Cure and comprehending thirty good Towns Here are found some Silver-Mines many more of Iron and the best Free-Stone in France Before the Romans these Countries belong'd to the Autunois Aedui whose Territories extended from the Saone to the Allier and comprehended also the greatest part of Bourbonnois So that Samson mistakes when he pretends that the Vadicasses dwelt in Nivernois for they were the Inhabitants of Chalons as we shall shew in its due place Thence it came that during the decay of the French Monarchy Nivernois pass'd into the hands of the Dukes of Burgundy the third of whom call'd Richard le Justicier gave it to one Ratier in 890 whose Posterity has kept it till Cardinal Mazarin bought it together with the Dutchy of Rethel for Philip Mancini Mazarin his Nephew from Charles of Gonzague III. Duke of Mantoue c. This County having been in the mean while successively enjoy'd by many illustrious Houses as Burgundy Courtenay France Flanders Cleves Gonzague into which the Heiresses of Nivernois Married Nevers Noviodunum Aeduorum lies between the confluence of the Nieure and Allier into the Loire 30 Leagues South-East of Orleans and to of Cosne Caesar had made it his Store-House keeping there his Corn and Mony and the Horses he had bought in Spain and Italy but Eporedorix and Virodomarus two Commanders Autunois having surpriz'd and kill'd the Garrison took away the Mony and Horses and put the Town into Flames This dependance upon Autun is the cause that the Bishoprick is not antient nor mention'd in any Notices of the Gauls before the VI. or VII Century The name of Nevers Nivernum is also new and most probably deriv'd from the Rivulet Nieure Niveris Gregory of Tours calls Nevers Nivernum but gives it only the Title of Oppidum a Town so that it seems not to have been a City or Bishop's Seat in his time that is in the VI. Age. Nevers is a pretty strong place having no manner of Suburbs and both the City and Town being included within the Walls that are defended with many thick and high Towers and surrounded with deep Motes fill'd up with Water The most considerable Buildings are 1. The Palace of the Dukes where amongst other Goods is a great Marble-Table upon which is another of less size that appears transparent at the light of the Sun or a Candle and shews most delicate Pictures 2. The Bridge upon the Loire consisting of twenty Arches and as many Pillars all of Free-Stone with a Drawing-Bridge on each side and Towers to defend them 3. The Cathedral dedicated first under the name of St. Gervais and St. Protais and then under the name of St. Cyr hath a Steeple enrich'd on the outward side with many emboss'd figures of Stone Nevers has besides Eleven Parishes an Abby of Augustinian Monks another of Nuns and several Religious Houses It has a Bayliwick resorting to the Presidial of St. Pierre le Moustier a Chamber of Accounts and an Election depending on the Generality of Moulins Nevers was Erected into a Peerdom in 1459. by Charles VII which Erection was confirm'd by Lewis XI in 1464. by Lewis XII in 1505 by Francis I. in 1521. That King rais'd it to the Dignity of Dutchy and Peerdom in 1538. which Cardinal Mazarin got ratifi'd by Lewis XIV in 1660. Abundance of Earthen wares but especially Glass-works are made in this City because most of the Inhabitants meddle with those Trades the last being no disparagement to a Gentleman in France Decize Decetia lies in a rocky and rugged Island of the River Loire where it receives the Airon seven Leagues South-East of Nevers and is the Capital of the Country of Bazois That learned Lawyer and Antiquary Gui Coquille who flourish'd from the middle of the last Age to the beginning of this was a Native of this Town He pretends in the History of Nivernois that this Island was cut off from the Continent and call'd Decize from Decisus But Aethicus in his Itinerary calls it Dececia that seems to be its antient name and Decize a corruption of it Whatever be of that Decize is a Town of some Antiquity as
of Foix presented the Abbots of S. Antonin with the Town and Castle of Pamiers and that in 1296 Pope Boniface VIII erected this Abby into a Bishoprick in behalf of Bernard Saisseti the Abbot The French King Philip the Fair did not like this election and gave the Bishoprick to one Lewis of Provence who dy'd in 1298 After his death he consented to the reinstallation of Saisseti but was so incens'd at a Speech this Prelate made to him that he caus'd him to be arrested in 1301 and put under the guard of its Metropolitan the Archbishop of Narbonne who was then at Court Pope Boniface took fire at it sent John of Normandy Archdeacon of Narbonne to get Saisseti at Liberty but he was deny'd it and the Holy Father's Thunderbolts despis'd so that after Boniface's death the imprison'd Prelate was fain to beg the King's pardon upon which he was releas'd Some years ago a late Bishop of Pamiers has been a great Confessor of Jansenism and of free Elections maintaining the Rights of his Church under the Protection of Pope Innocent XI against Lewis XIV and the Jesuits This Town was submitted to the new Archbishop of Toulouse by Pope John XXII and in the last Age fell under the Power of the Protestants It is divided into 6 Wards each of which has his Consul or Sheriff You have besides in this Diocese the Towns of Mazeres upon the Lers Maceriae so call'd from the slight Buildings they were made of at first as well as Maizieres in Rhetelois Maziers or Mazerocles in Ponthieu and Mezieres en Brenne It has a ruin'd Castle which has been sometime the Residence of the Counts of Foix. Montaut lies 3 Miles South of Mazeres and 5 North of Pamiers Sabaudun or Saverdun is made up of 4 little Towns most of them ruined its situation is pleasant and the Earls of Foix have oft dwelt in it Barilles Vatillae S. Paul Tarascon Castrum Tarasco different from Tarascon upon the Rhone and Acqs from Dax or Acqs upon the Adour are seated upon the Arriegue On the South-side of that River you meet with Chateau-verdun vic de Soz whence the best Iron in France is extracted Saurac Castelnau le Mas d' Azil Azilium or Mansum Azili with an ancient Abby of Benedictins which Du Val puts in the Diocese of Rieux Then you find Serberat les Bordes Carlac and S. Ibar Mirepoix Castrum Mirapicis or de Mirapice one of the new Bishopricks lies upon the Lers 11 Miles South-East of Pamiers 12 North-East of Foix and almost 15 South-West of Castel-naudary In 1210 Simon Count of Montfort took this Town from the Albigeois and bestow'd it upon Guy Lord of Levi with the Title of Marshal of the Faith whose posterity has ever since enjoy'd Mirepoix and its Territory erected first into a Barony and then into a Marquisate In 1390. Roger Bernard of Levis yielded to the King of France one half of the Jurisdiction he had upon the Castle of this Town and some of its dependencies for which he got some other Lands These Gentlemen pretend to be a kin to the Blessed Virgin as issued from the Tribe of Levi but I do not know how they prove it On this Diocese are farther depending Belpuech that is Fair Hill for Puy Puech and Pit signifie as much as Mountain or Hill Laurac Le Carlat Fagnaux Fanum Jovis Rieucros Libertat Leyran Chalabre le Peyrat Mirabel Bellestat near the source of the Lers has a Fountain which ebbs and flows Rieux Rivi has taken its name from its Situation on the fall of the Rize into the Garonne It is one of the Bishopricks of Pope John XXII's Foundation of which Pilefort of Rabastens Cardinal was the first Prelate in 1318. This Diocese has besides the Town of Fueillans upon the River Touche with an Abby Chief of the Order of Cisteaux Calers another Abby of Cisternian Monks Lezat of Benedictins Salangues of Cisternian Nuns Carbonne Montesquiou de Volvestre S. Sulpice c. CHAP. XIV Of LOWER LANGUEDOC Of the Precinct of Narbonne NARBONNOIS as comprehending the Dioceses of Alet Narbonne Carcassonne and S. Pons de Tomieres has Albigeois on the North the Precinct of Beziers on the East the Mediterranean Sea on the South the County of Foix and Lauragais on the West Alet Electa or Alecta upon the Aude is both a new Town and a new Bishoprick as are most of the others erected to that Dignity by Pope John XXII This Pope establish d the See of the Prelate to Limoux in 1317. but it was transferr'd hither two years after Petrarcha seem'd not to like these foundations when speaking of this Pontise he says that France still complains of his dividing many Dioceses and lodging the new Prelates in unfit places whereas before none but great and wealthy Cities enjoy'd the Privilege of being Bishopricks Rerum memorand Lib. II. Alet lies above 9 Leagues South-East of Mirepoix and 15 South-West of Narbonne Limoux two Leagues North-West of Alet upon the same River is renown'd for its White Wines It is call'd Limosum Castrum because seated in a muddy Soyl and is often mention'd in the Wars of the Albigeois As this Diocese Borders on the Pyrenees and the County of Foix so it is most mountainous De Valois reckons in it Tonnens Mazerolles Ville-Longue and Montferrand famous for its Bathes but I find none of 'em in Sanson's Maps and I doubt whether those this Learned Man perus'd were of the best sort Sanson only mentions Coustaussa Quilla and Bugarach with two Villages Cauvissan and Arques As to Sault Pagus Saltus which the said De Valois places in this Diocese it is a separate Country lying on the South-West according to Sanson NARBONNE Narbo Martius Decumanorum or Atacinorum so call'd because the Romans sent thither a Colony out of the tenth Legion that bore the Sirname of Martial and that this City is built near the Mouth of the River Aude Atax The first Plantation was made by Licinius Câassus that famous Orator under the Consulate of Q. Martius and M. Porcius Cato in 636 of Rome wherefore some Antiquaries derive from the first Consul the Sirname of Martius given to Narbonne though Ausonius calls it Martie in the Vocative Case and not Marci as he ought to have done if it came from a Man's name Julius Caesar sent thither another Colony under the conduct of Tiberius Claudius Nero Father to the Emperour Tibere whence this City got the names of Colonia Julia Paterna Narbo Martius exprest by these five Letters C. I. P. N. M. in an ancient Monument The Roman Proconsuls Senate and Emperors took a particular delight in beautifying Narbonne and endowing it with fine Privileges They built there an Amphitheatre and a Capitole all of Marble which subsisted yet in Ausonius and Sidonius Apollinaris's time that is in the IV and V Centuries nay we find yet mention of it in the XIIIth Age though not so precise that we can just tell in what
Canons in 1625. It s Prelate is Lord of the Town which is neither big nor thick inhabited but has this considerable that it lies near the Spring of a River call'd La jaur which at its very source is so great as to move several Mills and having wash'd divers Villages discharges it self into the Orbe S. Pons de Tomieres stands almost 11 Leagues North-West of Narbonne and 12 of Carcassonne It s Diocese comprehends the Towns or Burroughs of La Bastide S. Amant de Valtoret Angles Olargues La Voute Cessenon S. Chignan de la Corne Creuzy Aygues-vives La Caumelle Menerbe Ferralz c. Of the Precinct of Beziers THE Bezarès considered as comprehending the Dioceses of Beziers Agde and Lodeve has those of Montpellier and Nismes on the East those of Castres St. Pons and Narbonne on the West the Mediteranean Sea on the South and the Mountains of Cevennes and Rouergue on the North. It reaches about 15 Leagues East and West and 17 North and South BEZIERS Beterae Biterae or Bliterae Septumanorum five Miles North of the Sea and six Leagues North-East of Narbonne is one of the biggest and best peopl'd Cities in Languedoc seated upon a Hill of difficult access whose foot is wash'd by the River Orbe This City is very ancient and mention'd by Strabo Pliny Ptolomy and others but the time of his foundation is uncertain Only we know that it was a Roman Colony in Julius Caesar's time since repair'd and increas'd by Tiberius who built there two Temples one to Augustus and the other to Livia It kept its lustre under the Romans and even under the Goths tho they ruin'd its most sumptuous Buildings but in 736 the Saracens having taken it Charles Martel who retook it the follâwing year raz'd it to the Ground lest it should serve for a Nest to these Mahumetans The Inhabitants repair'd it soon after and it began to flourish again under Pepin Charlemaign and their Successors and had Viscounts of its own during the decay of the French Monarchy whose Estate being united by Marriage to that of the Counts of Carcassonne fell under the power of the Croisado in 1209 who took the Town and kill'd 10000 of its Citizens Some years after in 1222 and 1247 it fell to the share of the French Kings by the means I have observ'd speaking of Carcassonne The learned Holstenius in his Notes on Ortelius and on Stephanus pretends that Beterrae is the true name of Beziers because of an ancient Medal or piece of Mony found in 1629. at Murvieil three Leagues North West of Beziers with this Inscription BHTHPPATON Beziers is the first Suffragan of Narbonne since the erection of Toulouse into an Archbishoprick and Aphrodisius is accounted its first Prelate under whose Name was an Abby that has been turned into Secular Prebends There is still another of Augustinians bearing the Name of St. James and the Cathedral Church that of S. Nazaire The Arians held here a Council in 356 whose Acts are now lost and the only notice we have of them is by the Works of S. Hilaire who making bold to accuse the Heads of that Party they prevailed with the Emperour Constantius to have him banished There are likewise some remains of an Amphitheatre and a Cittadel that was demolish'd in 1636. The Streets of Beziers are fine and broad the Bishop's Palace has a very fine Prospect upon the neighbouring Campaign and the Town-house a high Tower The Jesuit's Colledge is esteem'd for a sumptuous Gate but much more for a Picture so naturally representing a bursting Wall that several of âhe most curious observers have mistaken it for âeal Cracks The Trade of Beziers is somewhat considerable but the roughness of the Sea and the Banks that lie all along the Coast do not alâow great Merchant-men to approach the Shore ând they are only small Boats which can enter ânto the Graus The Diocess of Beziers contains besides the Capital the following Towns or Burroughs Ville-neuve la Cremade Murvieil Magalaz St. Laurent Fougeres Colombiers Bec-de-Rioux St. Gervais Lunaz c. AGDE Agatha Massiliensium built by the âhoceans of Marseille as Strabo and its Name âf Greek Original testify lies on the mouth of the Eraut Arauris a League South of the Sea ânother West of the Bull 's Pond Etang de Thau ând six South-East of Beziers Stephanus calls â a Town or a Colony of the Ligurians that is the Genoese or of the Celtes that is the Tranââlpine Gauls It 's first name was ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã that is Good-fortune if we believe Timostâenes a Greek Author perhaps because of some advantage the Phoceans got over the Inhabitants when they were planting this Colony It was subject to its founders till Julius Caesar depriv'd the Massilians of all their Dominions leavâng them nothing but their own Liberty Agde as well as Beziers are reckon'd by the ancient âeographers in the Country of the Tectosages Ptolomy speaks of two Islands near Agde the ââst of which he calls Agathe as well as the ââwn and the second Blasco As to the last ãâã undoubtedly Brescou a small Isle in the Sea near Cape d' Agde two Leagues South of that City and the first may be another form'd by the two Arms of the Eraut falling into Grauâ d' Agde West over against it In 506 Alariâ King of the West-Goths allow'd the Catholick Bishops of his Dominions to assemble in Council at Agde as they did in the Church oâ S. Andrews where they made 71 Canons concerning Ecclesiastical Discipline to which Sophronius subscribed as Bishop of Agde The Foundation of this Bishoprick seems not to be much elder for in a Notice of the Gauls undeâ the Empire of Honorius there is no mention oâ Agde It s Cathedral under the name of S. Stephen has 12 Canons whereof 4 are dignify'd with the Titles of Archdeacon Sexton Precentor and Chamberlain The Town is noâ very big but Rich and Trading especially since the Haven of Brescou has been repair'd sâ that Merchant-men can now come pretty neaâ Agde and Boats somewhat large enter into thâ Mouth of the River where they exchange several Commodities for the Wines of the Country Agde has had its own Viscounts whosâ Estate fell to the share of those of Nismes and Carcassonne In 1187 Bernard-Atton Son to â Viscount of Nismes presented the Bishop oâ Agde with the Viscounty of it Five Miles North of Agde near the fall oâ the River Touque into the Eraut lies the Towâ of S. Tiberi or S. Tubery call'd Araura or Câsero in the Itinerary of Antonin with an antient Abby of Benedictins It has its namâ from one Tiberius who together with Modestuâ and Florentia got here the Crown of Martyrdom under Diocletian and Maximian Two Leagues more Northwards upon the Eraut lies the Town of Pesenas Piscenae so call'd from the many Fish-ponds that were round about it in the Romans time This. Town is renown'd for its Fairs and for its Women that are
down his Statues while he was at Rhodes and before he ascended the Imperial Throne Adrian â Ael Spartian rais'd here a famous Basilique in honour of Plâtina Wife to the Emperor Traian who had much contributed to his Adoption * Jul. Capitolin Antoninus Pius was originary from thence by his Father's side In the decay of the Western Empire the Goths conquered Nismes with the rest of Septimania and it then lost a great part of its lustre but suffer'd much more by the devastations of Attila of the Saracens and afterwards of Charles Martel who though he put it in Flames was not able wholly to destroy all the Monuments of the Roman magnificence Notwithstanding these misfortunes â Adrian Vales Nismes was so soon repair'd that under Lewis the Meek it was again a rich and wealthy City thick inhabited wall'd in and fortify'd with Towers so that during the weakness of the French Monarchy in 1129 the Governors of Nismes usurp'd the Sovereignty of it under the Title of Viscounts whose Estate was at the end of that Century devolv'd to the Counts of Toulouse and from them returned to the Crown of France In 1569 the Protestants seiz'd upon this City by the courage of a shrewd and venturesom Soldier who during the Night fil'd at several times the Bars of the Grate by which the Fountain of Nismes enters into the Town Since it was yielded to them by Henry IV. as one of their Towns of security which they enjoyed till Lewis XIII depâived them of it However they still kept some of their privileges as to have one half of the Consuls and of the Regents or School-masters of the Royal College Founded by Henry II. of their Religion but Lewis XIV has by degrees taken from them not only the small remains of their Liberties but even their Temples and the free exercise of their Religion The most remarkable remains of Antiquity in Nismes are its Amphitheatre the Square-house or Maison quarrée the great Tower or Tourre-magne the Fountain Nemausus and the Temple near this Fountain The Amphitheatre call'd by the Inhabitants Les Arenes is now but an Oval-Wall of 470 Steps with 63 Arches built up of very laâge Stones without Mortar or Plaister which however has not only withstood the ransackings of the Goths and Saracens but even the Flames of Attila and Charles Martel as appears by the black colour they are tainted with Notwithstanding one may still discern the Figures of Remus and Romulus suckling a She-wolf the Vultures that appeared to these Founders of Rome two Bull-heads upon the ancient Gate of this Building and two Towers upon the new Gate The Seats whence the Spectators saw the Shews have been remov'd from thence and the Caves where the wild Beasts were kept are now fill'd up with Earth Nay the whole capacity of the Amphitheatre is taken up with Houses at least since the year 1179 as may be prov'd by Patentees granted by the Viscount Bernard Atten where the Inhabitants of Nismes and those of the Arenes are distinguish'd which shews that this City has not been rebuilt where it formerly stood for anciently the Amphitheatre was without the Town and Warriors have oft made use of it as of a Fort or Cittadel The Square-house La Maison quarrée is a kind of Parellelogramme or long Square being 74 Foot in length and 41 Foot 6 Inches in breadth It s front is adorned with 6 Columns and each side with ten The top is flat and cover'd with square Free-stones extraordinary large so that one may walk upon it without any danger As we do not know who rais'd the Amphitheatre we are not better acquainted with the Founder of this House nor to what use it was fitted For its form which has no likeness at all with the antient Basilicks does not allow us to take it for that magnificent Building rais'd up by Adrian neither is the vulgar name of Cap-dueil sufficient to make a Capitole of it since no antient Author speaks of a Capitole of Nismes But as its front has a great resemblance with those of the antient Temples one may believe with the Learned Spon in his curious inquiries of Antiquity that it was a Temple dedicated to Jupiter Capitoline Without the Walls of the City upon the top of a high Hill rises an antient Building call'd by the Inhabitants Tourre-Magne the great Tower because of its prodigious height or that it exceeded by far all the Towers round about For by the remains it seems to have been a Watch or Tower built in the form of a Pyramide at one of the Corners of its antient Walls One may still distinguish the Stairs whereupon they ascended to the top and the Niches or Case-frames wherein they plac'd the Statues of their Gods The whole Fabrick is of small square Stones so well cemented together that the most industrious Mason should not throw down two Foot of it in a day At the Foot of that Hill springs a most clear and pleasant Fountain in the form of a Pond with a Whirl-pool in the middle wherein if any Creature chance to fall it is never to be seen again This spring is the Source of the Vistre so call'd from the brittle and transparent colour of its Water an Epithete given it by Ausonius Vitrea non luce Nemausus A branch of this Fountain runs through a Channel purposely drawn into the City As to the course of the Vistre you may see it in the Rivers of Languedoc Near this Fountain is an old Square-Temple under-propt by two rows of Columns with their Bars Chapters Architraves Frizes Cornishes and Mouldings all in a just proportion together with Niches or Case-frames and round Windows in the Walls for the Statues of their Gods and Eagles of emboss'd Work whose Heads have been broken off by the barbarous Goths Huns or Saracens in contempt of the Romans This Temple has been turned into a Monastery of Nuns and because of the Eagles and other marks of its former magnificence I should be apt to take it for the Basilick of Adrien rather than the Square-house or any other antient Building To avoid length I shall not mention the many Statues and Inscriptions that are found in this City nor insist upon the Monuments of newer date as the Wine-Tower La Tour Vinatiere so call'd Because built out of an excise upon Wine Mont-pouzieu in the inclosure of the Monastery of S. Bauzille is a Hill of Clay that formerly was the burying-place of the Jews for which they us'd to pay a certain quantity of Pepper to the Monks The King's Castle the Column erected at the entry of Francis I. with a Salamandre upon it the Clock-Tower the Crown-gate with its Bulwark and the Palace of the Presidial are considerable Buildings Sulpice Severe mentions a Council held at Nismes in 389 but does not name the Bishop of it The first of whose subscription we read is Gilbert of Nismes who assisted at a Synod
Capital that â00 years ago was a considerable place being âivided into City and Burrough The City has âtill three Gates is surrounded with Walls and âefended by square Towers and the ruin'd âalls of the Burrough shew it to have been 600 ââces in Circuit Its first decay came from ââat King Renatus Count of Provence transferâed to the City the Fairs that were in the Burââugh An. 1437 and during the Civil Wars of ââe last Age the Inhabitants retiring to the âây as to the strongest place left the Burââugh almost Desart DIGNE is seated at the Foot of a Mountain ââsh'd by the River Bleone which receives there âe Mardaric a Rivulet of warm Water that âakes this City famous for its Bathes It has a âmeschal Seat a Bailywick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun Our Lady is the Cathedral Church whose Chapter which was once Regular of the Order of S. Austin is now composed of a Provost a Capiscol a Sexton and 9 Canons of which one is an Incumbent with 8 Prebendaâies more and 2 Parsons The most considerable places are Mirabel Aiglun Corbons Brusquet-Toart-Collobrioux and Verdache As to Seyne which Robbe and hiâ transcriber Dela Croix put in this Diocese it depends upon Embrun Of the Diocese of ARLES THis Diocese extends 18 Leagues East anâ West from Salon on the Bârders of thâ Diocese of Aix to Peccais in Languedoc and iâ North and South from beyond Tarascon to thâ Mediterranean Sea The City of ARLES Arelâs Arelatae Arelâte or Arelatum lies upon the Rhone with a Archbishoprick a Seneschal's Seat and an Acâdemy of Humane Learning associated to thâ of Paris It was formerly the Chief of thâ Kingdom of Burgundy and Arles The Romaâ settled there their Sixth Colony and there aâ still to be seen the remains of an Amphithâatre of an Obelisque a great many Mausole or stately Tombs of the Ancients withoâ the City and many other considerable Monuâents of Antiquity The Original of ARLES âs uncertain because too ancient 't is sure that ât is of Gaulish Foundation At first there were only Houses on the East ââde of the Rhone but the Emperor Constantine the Great built a new Town on the West side ând joyn'd it to the old with a fine Bridge He âleas'd himself extremely in this City Here ââ was that his youngest Son Constantine was Born that he call'd a Council against the Doââtists that he established the Seat of the Capâain General or Governor of the Gauls and besides that he would it to bear his name and âo be call'd Constantina for the future though âis orders as to that have not been obey'd The Church of Arles is said to have been âounded by S. Trophime Disciple of S. Paul The Secular Power of this City has contributed âuch to that of the Church It was at first Suffragan to Vienne but erected to a Metropoâis under the Empire of Hânorius Then it had ãâã Suffragans viz. Marseille Orange S. Paulâuis-Chasteaux Toulon Avignon Vaison Carpenâtas Cavaillon But Avignon having been made â Primate has carried away the 3 last with it âelf To compensate this loss the Popes made âe Archbishops of ARLES Vicars of the Roâan See in the Gauls with power to declare âaster to ordain Bishops and to celebrate Councils The Chapter of the Cathedral conâists of 20 Canons among which there is a Proââst an Archdeacon a Sexton an Arch-priest ãâã Capiscol a Treasurer a Primicier and a Theologal there are also 20 Prebendaries or Incumbents It was made Secular in 1497 under Nicolas Cibo The Territory of this City â 50 Leagues in Circuit consisting in two Islands called Great and Little Carmargue formed bâ two Branches of the Rhone and in the Crau the latter is a large extent of Land covereâ with Flint Stones on which Aeschylus says that Jupiter rain'd Stones to destroy the Ligârians that were fighting against his Son Hercules This stony Champaign produces little Winâ and Corn but there are vast quantities of Simples and Vermilion As to the Camargue whicâ has its name from Caius Marius vanquisher ââ the Cimbers the Pastures that these Island bring forth are so good that the Cattel thaâ feeds upon them grows extraordinary fierce anâ strong Tarascon Tarasco Salyorum was the Capital ââ the Salyies before the building of Aix It lieâ 3 Leagues North of ARLES and above 5 Souâ West of Avignon upon the River Rhone ovââ against Beaucaire next to a little Island whicâ as it increases every day so it will at last maââ the Proverb prove a lye That Betwixt Thain and Tournon Betwixt Beaucaire and Tarascon There feeds neither Cow nor Mutton This I observe to shew that new Islands mââ be form'd by the Rivers and Sea washing aâ carrying away the ground and letting it suâside when they meet with a stop Tarascon hâ an indifferent good Castle built by Renatus of Sicily and Count of Provence a Collegiaâ Church wherein they boast to have the Relicks of S. Martha and several Monasteries Besides âhis 't is the head of many Villages resorting to âs Viguier There happen'd of late a pretty Story A Man digging in his Cellar met with â Wall and an Iron-gate which he caused to âe open'd and found it led into a vaulted way âut there he heard such a frightful noise that âe durst not proceed farther The Magistrate was advis'd of it and with much ado got a Man condemn'd to dye to go through who at the end of that way met with another Iron-gate which was likewise shut and at which he ânock'd in vain He related that the noise increas'd whilst he went along but that as he came nearer to the other Gate it seem'd as though he left that noise behind him This relation kindled the stronger the Magistrate's curiosity who still big with the hopes of undiscover'd Treasures got some Masons to go and open the Gate by promising them the 25th part of whatever should be found They perform'd it accordingly and found that this Gate led into Beaucaire Since what time the Masons of Tarascon use to say in a jearing way that the 25th part of Beaucaire belongs to them The other places of note are Salon a pretty good Town with a Principality depending âpon the Archbishop of ARLES but more known for being the Birth and burying Place of that famous Astrologer Michael Nostradamus Les Baux a Marquisate belonging to the Prince of Monaco and formerly a Principality belonging to the Princes of Orange S. Martin in the Crau Notre-Dame de Dormet and les Trois Maries in the great Camargue S. Remi S. Gabriel Orgon Senas S. Chamas Berre that haâ good Salt-pits Vitrolles Istres Marignane Ferriere the Isle of Martegue Jonquieres c. Buâ I conclude because the remarkable things thaâ are in the Diocese of ARLES would require a whole Volume Of the Diocese of Marseille THis Diocese that lies on the Sea-coast is very narrow having the Gulf and Island of Martegue on the West the Archbishoprick of Aix
on the North the Bishoprick of Touloâ on the East and the Sea on the South The City of MARSEILLE Massilia or Massalia is upon the Mediterranean Sea with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Arles an Admirality a Seneschal's Court a Bayliwick and other Jurisdictions its Port is sheltered from Winds and so good that it has never been heard a Ship has perished in it And therefore it 's the usual abode of the Gallies and where most Merchant-men of the Levant do resort which render it very Populous and Trading The Phoceans or Phocenses who came from Phocea a Colony of Athens in that part of Asia called Ionia were its Founders In Caesar's time this City was flourishing was a kind of Republick and had a famous University The Romans had a great esteem for it and made an Alliance with it It has undergone many revolutions and sustained many Wars it has had its Viscounts and divers other Sovereign Lords and was at last united to the Crown at the same time as the rest of Provence viz. in 1481. This City has been the Mother of many great Men and is now one of the biggest finest and best built of the Kingdom since it has been inlarged by the French King's order The Port the Arcenal the Cittadel the Gallies many other Buildings the South Walk or Race the New Streets the Markets the neat and stately Houses Churches Monasteries Seminaries Hospitals the College of the Fathers of the Oratory the Fountains c. are worth the curiosity of Strangers I would have spoken here of the Original of MARSEILLE of its Foundation by the Phoceans and Cenomani of its Government Laws Academy of Humane Learning of its Manufactories Trade Wars Conquests Colonies of its Alliance with the Romans of the Changes and Revolutions it has undergone under the Goths Sarracens the French Kings the Counts of Provence and its own Viscounts The other places of note in this Diocese are Aubagnes Roquevayre Oriols Cassis La Cioutat famous for its Muscadiâe Wines and for the Fabrick of Polacres a kind of Vessels us'd on the Mediteâranean Sea Olliols La Cadiere le Castelet c. Of the Diocese of TOULON THE Diocese of TOVLON lies also upon the Sea-coasts to the East of that oâ Marseille to the South of that of Aix and to the West of that of Frejus The City of TOVLON Telo Martius lies upon the Mediterranean Sea almost 15 Leagues Easâ of Marseille with a very fine Port and Road a great Arcenal a Bailywick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Arles It is very ancient Hen. IV fortified it with good strong Walls and builâ there two great Moles of 700 Paces each which do almost cover all the Port. This present King has finish'd this Work begun by his Grandfather whose description would require a greaâ Volume there are fine Houses a great many Churches and Monasteries the Cathedral has many Relicks its first Bishop is esteem'd to be S. Honoratus and Hyeres is a little Town four Leagues East of TOVLON on the Sea over against the Isles Hyeres It has a Viguery and many Burroughs and Villages depending on it The other places are Sifours Cenari Solyes La Valette Turris Cuers Le Puget Pierrefuec Bormes c. Of the Diocese of FREJUS THis Diocese lies also upon the Sea-Coast betwixt those of Toulon Aix Riez Senez and Grace reaching 15 Leagues East and West and 17 North and South This Country was anciently inhabited by the Suelteri or Selteri The Capital Frejus Forum Julii or Civitas Foro-Juliensis is a Colony of the Romans and had formerly so good a Haven that the Emperor August kept there his Fleet for the defence and security of the Gauls This City lies now in a Fen half a League from the Sea on the River Argens with an indifferent Port and a Bishoprick the 4th Suffragan of Aix there are some remains of Antiquity to be seen for this City is very ancient and was very considerable heretofore as may be seen in many famous Authors The other places of note are S. Tropès a good Sea-port Town seated on Golfe de Grimaut Sinis or Plagia Samblacitana Draguignan another good Town upon the River Pis 6 Leagues and a half North West of FREJVS the Seat of the Viguier of this Diocese Callian Fayence Seillans Bargemes Comps Bargamon Caillas Eigueniere Taurene Flayose Lorgues Trans Les-Arqs Le-Muy Le-Luc Cogolin Grimaut Roquebrune La-Napole Of the Diocese of GRACE THE Diocese of GRACE lies on the East of that of Frejus on the West of that of Vence and the South of that of Senez It was anciently inhabited by the Deciates one of the Ligurian Nations that liv'd on this side of the Alps. The City of GRACE Grassa lies on a small River two Country Leagues North of the Sea with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun a Viguery or a Court of Justice The Episcopal See was transferr'd thither from Antibes by Pope Innocent IV. in 1250. by reason of the bad Air and the Incursions of Pyrates it is a pretty Town fortify'd with a good Cittadel c. The most considerable places are Antibe Antipolis a good Sea-port Town and a Colony of the Marseillois Canes upon Cape de la Croix Mogins Cesari Cipieres Le Bar Chateau-neuf Of the Diocese of VENCE THis Maritim Country the ancient habitation of the Nerusii has the Diocese of Grace to the West that of Glandeve to the North and the County of Nice to the East The Dioceses of Grace and VENCE are very small and afford but little Revenue The City of VENCE Vintium lies five Leagues North East from Grace and two North of the Sea It has a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun It is very ancient the temporal Dominion is divided between the Bishop and the Baron of VENCE The Cathedral is dedicated to our Blessed Lady The famous Poet Godeau who has made a Paraphrastical Translation in French Rythms of the Psalms and the Canticle of Solomon written a Church History c. was Bishop of Grace and VENCE for these two Dioceses are oft joyn'd because of their nearness and smalness There are but four places of note in the Diocese of VENCE viz. Cagne and S. Laurens near the Sea S. Paol on the South side of VENCE and Le Broc near the Var. Of the Diocese of GLANDEVE BEfore the Romans and French this Country was inhabited by a Ligurian Nation call'd Velauni It lies now about the Var and Vaine having the Bishopricks of Grace and Vence to the South the County of Beuil to the East part of Embrunois to the Noâth and the Dioceses of Digne and Senez to the West The City of GLANDEVE or Glannateva on the South side of the Var with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ambrun is now almost ruin'd for the Bishop makes his residence at a Burrough called Entrevaux which has been built on the other side of the River with the Ruins of the City c. The other places of note are Guilleumes the Seat of
good Village not otherwise considerable than that it gives its name to a River and is one of the Passes of Dauphine into the Marquisate of Saluces and so farther into Piemont Of Brianconois THis Mountainous Country reaches 18 or 20 Leagues East and West from Pignerol to the Mountains call'd Produissen and 16 North and South from Chateau-Dauphin to Col de La Roue It was formerly of a narrower extent before Pignerol and the adjacent Vallies were yielded to the French King In this Territory falls a sweet and purging Dew called La Manne de BRIANCON and accounted one of the seven Wonders of this Province The Capital BRIANCON is now the head of that Bailiwick and the Seat of a Presidial but was never a Bishoprick tho Robbe calls it so Under the Dauphins it had the Title of a Principality of which they bore the name but under the Romans it was at first one of the places where they used to incamp but by little and little it became a Place of some note Both this Town and Country made part of the Kingdom of Cottius that famous Gaulish Prince whom Augustus not being able to subdue persented with the Alliance of the Roman Empire His whole Realm consisted in 12 Towns of which Suse was the Capital but he knew so well how to inââench himself that both his Subjects and his Enemies concurr'd to give his name to the Mountains whereon he reign'd calling them Cottian Alps during the extent of 14 Leagues ârom Mount Viso to Mount Cenis This Town ân Latin Brigantio or Brigantium depended for â long time upon the Segusiones or the Princes âf Suze BRIANCON is now built on the foot of â Rock near Mount Genevre on the meeting âf two small Brooks one of which bears the ââme of Dure viz. the most Easterly and the ââther that of Ance but after their junction âhe common name of Durance BRIANCON is esteemed by reason of its Situation the âighest Town in Europe tho it be commanded ây a Castle built upon the Rock at the bottom âf which the Town lies Two Leagues South ãâã BRIANCON is a pierced Rock call'd ââtuis Rostan some believe that Caesar caused ââis Passage to be made thorough this Rock for âis Troops at his entrance into the Gaules Others âe of opinion that it is the same Rock which ânnibal caused to be pierced with Fire and âinegar that his Elephants might pass thorough âthers again think that it is a Work of King ââtius in honour of Augustus whose Statue he ââected upon it Whatsoever it may be BRIâNCON has not been considerable before ãâã 13th Century In the last Age the Leaguers ââzed upon it but the Duke of Lesdiguieres âok it from them in 1590. This Town has produced one of the learnedest Mathematicians of France called Oronce Finé who was professor Royal at Paris and died in 1555. Pignerol is properly a City of Piedmânt and formerly was the Title and Portion of the Dukes of Savoy's youngest Sons It is seated upon the small River Cluson or Chisson which falls into the Po near Moncallier two Leagues South of Turin It had formerly a good Cittadel only but since the French have it in their possession they have fortified it so as to make it almost an impregnable place The Cittadel is built on a Rock and the Town between the last Mountains of the Alps seven Leagues South-East of Turin and 12 North West of BRIANCON There 's is a Fort call'd St. Bridge which has communication with the Cittadel by a cover'd way and subterraneous passages The Duke of Savoy at the head of the Confederate Forces took it this year 1693. But instead of going on vigorously with the Siege of the Town and Cittadel they left them block'd up and went to sight Catinat the French General who lay incamp'd with 12 or 14000 Men betwixt the Mountains of Col de Fenestrelles and Col de Rossa seven or eight Leagues North West of Pignerol But when they were gone so far they perceived they could not come at him So that after much time lost they went back and open'd the Trenches before Pignerol in September rais'd the Siege and were deseated October the 4th 1693. 'T is a pleasure to read the cunning fetches of that shrewd Politician Cardinal Rihelieu to get this Strong-hold into his Master's Hands There arose a Civil War in Piedmont perhaps by this subtle Minister's Devices The Uncles of the young Duke pretending to the Regency against the Dutchess Dowager who had been left in possession of it by her Husband As she was a Princess of the French Blood she presently implor'd the assistance of her Cousin especially seeing that her Competitors were assisted by the Spaniards It had been an easy matter for the French Monarch to maintain the Dutchess in the quiet possession of her Right But the Policy of his chief Minister suffered her to come to that extremity that she kept nothing else beyond the Alps besides Turin and its Cittadel Whilst she was in those Fears she was promised a sufficient Succor to restore her into all her Dominions provided she would yield to the French King Pignerol and all the Vallies of Piedmont She was very loath to part with such a large Portion of her Territories but at last for fear of loosing all she consented to yield Pignerol with the Vallies on the East-side of the River Cluson whereupon the Treaty was secretly concluded in the Town of Queyras the 31th of March 1631 so that ever since the important Vallies of Perouse and Pragelas belong'd to the French King There are some other places that give their Name to Vallies as the Burough of Bardonanche the Town of Queyras with a strong Castle and a Mountain washed by the River Guillestre the Burough of Chasteau-Dauphin which seems to have been built by the Princes of that Country against the Incursions of the Piemontois for it lies on the utmost Borders of Dauphine ten Leagues South East of BRIANCON The Fort of Exilles is another considerable passage from France into Italy 13 Miles North-West of Brianon and but 3 East of Suze Caesar makes mention of it in the first Book of his Commentaries under the name of Ocelum The Country about it is called by the Inhabitants the Valley of Duren CHAP. XVIII Of Low DAUPHINE Of VIENNOIS THis Country that now comprehends the Bayliwicks of Vienne and St. Marcellin was formerly called the Isle of the Allobroges it being included between the Rivers Rhosne on the North and West the Isere on the South and the Giare on the East and reaching 24 Leagues North and South and 18 East and West it is the best and most inhabited part of Dauphiné being water'd with several Rivers and less interrupted with Mountains than the others The Capital Vienne built upon the Rhone where it receives the small River Gere lies 8 Leagues South of Lyons 18 Norli of Valence and as many North-West of Grenâble It is accounted one
but the New is greater and better fortified The French destroy'd its Fortifications in 1664 and afterwards repaired them There is a Chamber of Accounts and a Seneshalship This Province has also Bar le Duc Capital of the Dutchy of that Name It was built by Frederick Duke of the Mozellane Lorrain in 951 and fortified with a strong Castle to prevent the Incursions of the Champenois There were several other strong Places amongst the rest Marsal and Moyenvic whose Fortifications the French have destroyed as well as the Castle of Bar le Duc. Near Moyenvic are commodious Salt-Pits I must not forget the three Bishopricks taken from Charles V. in 1552. viz. Toul Mets and Verdun because they are included in this Province and are nearly ty'd to it especially in what concerns Spiritual Jurisdiction though as to the Civil they make a separate Government Toul Tullum Leucorum is a Town well built situated upon the Mosell twelve Miles from Nancy It 's pretty big and boasts of St. Bernard's Tomb over which is a Crown extraordinary well worked its Diocess is pretty large Verdun Verodunum a very pleasant City situated in a fruitful and good Soil on the River Meuse Twenty six Miles from Mets Its Bishops take the Title of Counts of Verdun and Princes of the Holy Empire It has a strong Citadel and Baylwick and is renowned for its Aniseed Mets is also a very pleasant Town both for its Houses its Cathedral of St. Stephen a true Master-piece of Architecture and the River Moselle and Seille that wash it It is a very ancient City since Cesar Plinius Tacite and Ptolomy mention it under the Name of Divodurum Mediomatricum and speak of it as the chief Town of that Country and of the People called Mediomatrices now Les habitans du pais Messin In process of time it became still more and more Famous and under the French Kings of the first Race was Capital of the Kingdom of Austrasia called also the Kingdom of Mets since Theodoric Son to Clovis the Great had chosen it for the Seat of his Empire In the Decay of Charlemaign's House Mets erected it self into a free Imperial Town under the Government of its own Magistrates who had Power of Life and Death and of Coining of Money And so jealous they were of their Liberty that Charles VII King of France besieging them ân 1444 on the behalf of Renatus Duke of Lorrain they rather chose to see their Country wasted during seven Months and to redeem themselves with 300000 Livres than to loose their Liberty Thus they kept it till the Year 1552 that their City was taken by the Lord of Montmorency High Constable of France In the Month of October of the same Year Charles V. besieged it in vain and as it was the last Undertaking of this Emperour it gave occasion to this Verse alluding to the modern Name of this Town in Latin Metae Siste viam Metis haec tibi meta datur There is seen in St. Stephen's Church a Vessel of Red Porphyry ten Foot long and all of a piece which serves to keep their Holy Water in This great Town has no Subâurbs and is all surrounded with a strong Rampier and deep and wide Ditches that can be filled at pleasure only opening a Sluce to let in the Moselle Yet for its greater Strength a Cittadel with four Bastions have been built there of late The People are well bred Civil and Numerous and drive a great Trade into Germany The Circumference of the Town is pretty big its Bishop entitles himself Prince of the Empire and has four Arch-Deacons under him with 623 Parishes In 1633 Lewis XIII established there a Parliament which the Commissioners of the Emperour opposed saying That the French King was only Protector of the three Bishopricks and not absolute Sovereign thereof and consequently that he might not deprive the Inhabitants of their ancient Laws and the Right they had to bring their Appeals before the Imperial Chamber at Spire These Complaints lasted to the Peace of Munster in which the three Bishopricks and Moyenvic were yielded unconditionally and for ever to the Crown of France save only the Right of Metropolitan to the Archbishop of Triers This Parliament as it was the last so it was at first the least considerable next to that of Pau the three Bishopricks only resorting to it But since the Conquest of Lorrain Luxemburg and adjacent Countries its Jurisdiction is mightily inlarged It made a great Noise some time after the Peace of Nimeguen about the Year 1680 when the French King erected there a Chamber of Dependencies whose Judges summoned the Spanish Subjects to come and swear Allegiance to the French King under pretence that they were depending upon some of his new Conquests By this Shrewdness he got more Lands during the Peace than he had done in the War The Dukedom of Luxemburg is under the Governour of Lorrain but I supersede to make a particular Description of it because the Low-Countries deserve a Treatise by it self I shall only observe that there is a Soveraign Council in the Capital whereunto the whole Province resorts At a League 's distance from the Town is a Village called Jovy where are still to be seen some Remains of an Aqueduct built by the Romans with Arches of a fine white Stone cut in Form of Bricks and above Sixty Foot high Besides this there is another considerable Place near Nancy called St. Nicolas that should deserve rather to be called one of the greatest Towns of Lorrain for the Number of its Inhabitants and considerable Traffick than a simple Borough if it were walled in The other most considerable Places near the Capital are Fruart which is but a League off it Ormes Bayon Pont a Mousson famous for its University founded by Charles Cardinal of Lorrain on behalf of the Jesuits An. 1573 and very pleasant by reason of its fruitful Soil and of the Mosell which runs through the middle of the Town and is passed with ãâã Bridge whence and from a neighbouring Mountain called Mousson is derived thâ Name of Pont à Mousson Then Vezelize Roziere Blancmont Gerbevillier Charmes Chastenoy Moranges Vaucouleur the Birth-place of Jane d' Arc called the Virgin or Maiden of Orleans Mexan-sous-Bresse Dompaire Deneure Hoden Chasteau-Rambervillier Raon Bellemont Neuf-chastel Magstat Marchainville Espinal Bruyeres Darney Ormont Valderfing Beauzains Vaigni Estraye Estival Luneville Fauquemont Sare-Louïs a new Fortress with a Presidial Vandervange the Seat of a Baylwick c. Its Counties are Vaudemont Chaligni Amence formerly the Chancery of Lorrain Mirecourt Remiremont and La Mothe At Remiremont upon the Mosell is a famous Monastery of Canonnesses where Noble Mens Daughters are only received The Abbess is not suffered to leave the Habit but all the Nuns can go out and marry if they please La Mothe was a small Town on the Frontiers of Champaign but being built on a steep Rock washed by a Brook it was accounted impregnable before
the Towns of Corbeil Melun La Ferté-Alais and Fontaine-bleau The French Gastinois Southwards of Hurepoix has the Dutchy of Neânours the Counties of Rochtfort and Moret and the Towns of Montlehery Dourdan and Courtenay The Mantois westwards of Paris contains Mante S. Germain Poissy Meuâan and Montfort-L ' Amaury The French Vexin lies North-west of the Oyse and Seine is separated from the Norman Vexin by the River Epte and has the Towns of Pontoysâ Magny and Chaumont From Picardy fiâ Countries or Diocesses have been separated viz. Beauvaisis about the River Terraiâ containing the Bishoprick of Beauvais and thâ Towns of Clermont Gerberoy and Merloâ The Dutchy of Valois has Crespy Senliâ Compiegne La Ferté-Milon Pont S. Maixence and Villers-Cotterets and is included between the Oyse and Marne The Territory of Soissons lies about the Aysne and contains Soissons Braisne and Vesly The Laoânois which lies on the North of that River has Laon Coucy Neuf Châtel and Notre-Dame de Lesse Beyond the River Oyse is the Territory of Noyon with the Town of Chauny However all these small Parcels taken together do hardly make an Extent of Ninety Miles East and West from Neuf-Châtel upon the Aisne to Gisors in Normandy and about as many North and South from Ham in Picardy to Courtenay in Gastinois The Isle of France in the stricter Sense is also called Parisis by some and has the City of Paris and the Towns of St. Denis Montmorency and Dammartin but considered as a Government it has Picardy on the North Champaign and Brie on the West the Orleanois on the South and Normandy on the West The Country brings forth excellent Wheat Wine indifferent good abundance of Fruits and Game both in its Plains and Woods This with the Conveniency of many Rivers and the Neighbourhood of the Capital has made it extraordinary Peopled and filled with Royal and Pleasure-Houses some of which I shall set down hereafter As to its Rivers besides the Seine the Marne and the Aisne which have already been described you have the Oyse which comes from Picardy on the Frontiers of Haynault and Luxemburg washes Guise and Noyon receives the Serre the Dellette and the Mas mixes with the Aisne at Compiegne then increased with the Waters of the Aronde Ottenette Bresche Terrain Nonnette Aise and going by Pont S. Maixence Creil Beaumont L' Isle-Adam falls into the Seine under Pontoise about Thirteen Miles off Paris Besides several small Rivers which discharge themselves into the Seine on the West Side as the Bievre in the Suburbs of Paris the Orge which comes from Montlehery and washes Long-Jumeau Juvizy and Savigny and the Juyne which comes from about Estampes passes by Dourdan and falls into the same River at Corbeil 1. Paris PARIS Capital of the Isle and Kingdoâ of France is one of the biggest richesâ and most Beautiful Cities in Europe Iâ Houses very high well built and as weâ inhabited Its Streets and Places large anâ regular its Churches magnificent its Palaces and especially the Louvre great anâ sumptuous its Colledges Universities Bridges Hospitals Abbies Churches anâ Monasteries worthy to be seen There are Forty four Parishes Its Cathedral Notre-Dame or Our Lady's Church though it be built upon Piles is extraordinary high Sixty Paces wide and an Hundred seventy four long and is said to include Forty five small Chappels The Frontisepiece has the Figures of the Thirty eight Kings that have reigned between Childebert and Philip Auguste and the two Towers that serve as Belfreys are Three hundred eighty nine Steps high and have Eight great Bells whereof the biggest requires Twenty Men to ring it and is heard Seven or Eight Leagues of There is a Crucifix over the greatest Door of the Quire all of one piece with the Feet forming an Arch that is a Masterpiece in that Kind The Quire the Chappel and Body of the Church are adorned with rich Paintings fine gilt Cornishes and other Orâaments It has Eight Dignitaries a Dean a Singer Three Arch-Deacons an Under-Singer a Chancellor and a Penitentiary Sixty nine Canons six Grand Vicars Two Rectors of St. John the Round Two Vicars of St. Aigâan Twelve Singing Boys besides the Clerks or Matines of Morning-Service and ân Hundred and forty Chapplains The Sainte-Chapelle or Holy Chappel is another fine Building It consists of two Chappels both supported by such small Pillars that it 's thought very strange they can bear such a great weight as their Disposition and Order makes them do The Canons here have the same Priviledges with them of our Lady and depend immediately on the See of Rome but the French King has the Nomination of them all It 's called Sainte Chapelle by reason of the great Number of Reliques laid up therein amongst the rest they make a Shew of part of our Saviour's Crown of Thorns some of the Nails that stuck him to the Cross with some part of the Wood c. Near this is the Place that Philip the Fair built to keep Parliaments in This Place is considerable for its Bigness and Beauty but more for its great Hall for Hearing or Audiences very beautiful and rich That of the Attorneys is very spacious and was formerly adorned with all the Kings Statues done to the Life besides the Marble-Table estemed one of thâ most curious Pieces of all Europe its Galleries and Avenues well stock'd with ricâ Shops furnished with all manner of Merchandize Monasteries are here almost numberless The most considerable are these that follow 1. That of the Templers inclosed witâ a good Wall has a great square Tower a fine Church with curious Chappels and Lodgings for a King a Place so considerable that part of the Town still retains the Name of Marets-du-Temple though this ancient Order was abolished by Pope Clement V. under Philip the Fair in 1309. The Abby of St. Germain deserves the second Place great in all things and Head of its Suburb where the Abbots Officers exercise Justice 3. The Convent of the Canon Regulars of St. Augustin in the Suburbs of St. Victor built by Lewis the Burly Those of Sainte Geneniefue Franciscans Dominicans Augustins Celestins Cartusians Feuillans Jesuits Les Filles-de-dieu Val de grace especially these last are curious Buildings The Church-Yard of St. John in Greve and of St. Innocents are the most remarkable of this Kind Bodies are quite consumed in the last in the space of eight days The Parish Churches are not less magnificent St. Eustache has at least 35 or 40000 Communicants To St. Nicholas des Champs or in the Fields St. James St. Sulpice and St. Saviour do likewise resort a great number of People Its Colledges are also very fair especially those of Du Plessis Sorbonne and of Master Gervais the First founded in 1322 and the Second in 1870. Nor is Clairmont the Jesuits Colledge less considerable either for its Building or the Number and Quality of Students It 's also well worth while to visit St. Lewis's Church built by these Fathers
adorned with cast Copper Trâphies of embossed Work representing thâ most memorable Events of that Reigâ The Statue is properly a Groupe or a Complâcation of three Figures namely of the Kinâ in his Royal Robes of the Victory behinâ him who puts a Crown on his Head anâ of Cerberus or the infernal Dog kick'd under the Feet of this Sham-conqueror by the three Heads of which they would signifie the triple Alliance of England Holland and Swede or perhaps the House of Austria The Victory has one of her Feet on a Globe the other in the Air and with her two display'd Wings seems ready to fly There are besides a Hercules's Club a Lyon's Skin and a Helmet so that the whole weighs above thirty thousand though 't is said that it was all made at one Cast On the four Avenues or Sides of the Market are so many Marble-Columns adorned with Bassâ-Relievo's of Brass representing this Prince's Actions Upon each of these Pillars is a Lanthorn of gilded Brass whereââ Light is perpetually kept to venerate âis new Idol which is sufficiently denoted ây this Inscription amongst others Viro imâortali to the immortal Man Paris as to its Form is rather square than âng and divided into three Parts the City ãâã ancient Town built in the Isle of the Paââce formed by the Seine The new Town ââlled La Ville which is the Northern or ââwest part of Paris and the University âhich is the highest They were shut up âith seventeen Gates leading unto ten Subârbs whereof that of St. Germain likes to âe a goodly Town but some of their Gates âave been demolished These several Parts âre joyned and communicate together by âen Bridges most of which are filled with âuildings Paris lies so convenient that Rouen supâlies it with what it has occasion of from âther Countries and the neighbouring Proâinces with all Home-Necessaries Besides âhis its Situation is so very advantagious âhat there is no place in the Kingdom so fit âor so great a City or such a Court. The Houses generally are high and spacious the Streets kept very clean Fountains wholesome and in great numbers The Air mild and healthful and Provisions cheap so that People may live there and spend much less than what is generally thought Besides these there is another great Convenienââ in that City that Men may go any time ãâã the Night about their Occasions as safe ãâã by Day because the Watch are so exaââ that no Thieves or Rogues can scape theââ being Lanthorns very close that give greââ Light and Chains in every Street to ãâã drawn up upon such Occasions Physiciaâ have the Liberty of the Royal Garden ãâã the Suburbs of St. Victor where they wââ find many rare Simples The Learned cââ visit the Royal Library at the Cordeliers of St. Victor in the Abby of that Name weââ furnished with ancient and curious Manâscripts that of Navarre but especially thââ of the President of Thou that is well looked after and in good Order Besides thesâ each Religious House as poor as it is hââ it s own particular Library I shall concludâ this Article by mentioning Val de Grace thââ sumptuous Monastery in the Suburbs ãâã St. James belonging to the Nuns of St. Beânet's Order and built by the Queen Motheâ Ann of Austria It 's one of the finest Placeâ of this great City which a famous Poet haâ commended thus Vrbs orbi similis toto celeberrima mundo Musarum sedes Regina Lutetia salve Francigenae tu Metropolis pulcherrima Gentis Hospitio regum grato regis que ministros Excipis reliquas das jura suprema per urbes Towns and Places of Note in the Parisis or the Territory of Paris ON the South Side of Paris entring into the Deanship of S. Cel is the Village âf Gentilly upon the River Bievre or des Gobelins where the Kings of the first and âecond Race kept their General States and âometimes their Parliaments but it was âestroyed by the Normans and is now onây renowned for its many fine Gardens At âhe top of this Village was the Royal Castle âf Winchester corruptly called Bicestre beâause in the time of the English it belonged âo John Bishop of Winchester It has been âft ruined and rebuilt King Lewis XIII âaused there an Hospital to be built for Lame Souldiers who having been transfer'd ânto another Place it was designed to shut up âhe Beggars of Paris On the South-West of the City in the Castelny of St. Maur are the Villages of Isi where the Goddess Isis was adored Vanââes which was heretofore inhabited by the Water-men of the River Seine and is now âenowned for its Fountains Gardens and Meadows that furnish Paris with Milk and Butter Arcueuil formerly a Pleasure-House of the Romans whence Julian the Apostate brought Water through Lead-Pipes into his Palace that was built wheââ now is the House of Clugny Farther to the West near the Seinâ is the Village of Meudon two Leagues froâ Paris with a strong Castle built upon ãâã Rock in the middle of a pleasant Foreââ There is a Grotto that affords Water in abundance and is paved with Porphiry spoâted with White Red Green and severââ other Colours The Chambers of this Castle built by Cardinal Sanguin under Charâââ IX are adorned with Marble Statues fiââ Pictures of the first Roman Emperors ãâã Aristotle Cicero Demosthenes c. and upoâ one of the Chimneys is a Marble that reflects the Rays of the Light as a Looking Glass The Town of S. Clou Head of a Casteâny on the West of Paris is situated upoâ the Seine about two Leagues from the Câpital It was formerly a Village calleâ Nogent and has gotten its present Naââ from Cloüaud or Cloud Son to Clodonir Kiââ of Orleance This Cloud for fear of his crâel Uncle Clotaire King of Paris who hââ already murthered two of his Nephews râtired to Nogent where he built a Monastâry and ended his Life There also dieâ King Henry III. being stabb'd by James Cââment a Dominican Fryar The present King Brother has there a very fine House Versailles THIS Royal House about four Leagues Westward of Paris is become of late ãâã considerable that it deserves a particular âescription The present King began to âuild or beautifie it in 1661. It consists âf the old Castle built by this Prince's Faââer of other Buildings of the same Symeây which he has added for Lodgings and âf a very stately Pile of Buildings that enâârons it on the Garden Side The House ãâã built upon a little height in the middle of ãâã Valley encompassed with Hills at the âottom of them on Paris side begin three ââe Walks formed by four delicate Sets of âim the middle Alley being twenty Faââoms and the two side ones ten each wide âhese end at the great Royal Place enviââned with very regular Pavilions which âe Princes and Lords of that Court have ââilt there and with the other Houses that âârm the new Town This Royal Place
and the Lord oâ la None King Henry IV's Generals leaving Fifteen Hundred Men upon the spot Crespy Eleven Miles East of Senlis anâ Thirteen Leagues North-East of Paris wâ formerly a considerable City and the Capital of Valois It had the Title of a County or was the Seat of the Counts of Valââ who are indifferently call'd by these Two Names This Title has likewise been borne by some Children of the French Kings In Castle which is now almost ruined is said to have been built by K. Dagobert and keeps still some remains of its Antiquity and of the greatness of the Town that haâ not at present above Five Hundred Houses However it is yet the head of a Provostship and Castelny Francis I. concluded a Peace in this Town with the Emperour Charles V. on the Eighteenth of September 1544. La-Ferte-Milon upon the little River Oââe 4 Leagues South-East off Crespy and almost 6 North-East of Meaux is another Provostship and Castelity It is called in Latin Firmita Milonis that is the Castle or Fortress of Milon having been built by a Count of âhat Name under the Reign of Lewis the Burly For as the Authors of the middle Age of the Latin Tongue said firmare for munire and firmitas for munimentum So the French who formed their Language upon this corrupted Speech call'd Ferte such places as were strong by Art and Nature and distinguished 'em from one another either by the Name of their Founder or by some particular circumstance of their scituation As to this it 's a pretty good Town with a Castle and Suburbs Villers-Costé-Res on the West-side on the Forest of Res Five Miles North of La Ferté Milon was formerly a Royal House where the French Kings often dwelt to take the pleasure of Hunting Pont St. Maixence is a considerable Burrough upon the Oyse Three Leagues North-East of Senlis Bethisy upon the River Ottenete a Mile Southwest of the Forest of Compiegne is a good Burrough which had formerly a strong Castle that is now almost ruined John of Bethisy Physician to King Philip the Bold was Famous under his Reign This Burrough is still the Head of a Provostship and Castelny as well as Pierrefons a Mile East of the same Forest Compiegne Compendium at the meeting ãâã the Rivers Aisne and Oyse above Eigâ Leagues North-East of Senlis was built ãâã the Romans or at least before the Frenâ master'd the Gauls It 's still a considerabââ Town and hath often been the Residence oâ the French Kings for Clotaire I. died aââ was buried there in 564 and the Emperoâ Charles the Bald repaired and increased iâ and called it after his Name Carlopââ Charles VI. took it from the Duke of Bââgundy in 1415 and Fifteen years after thâ same Duke besieging this Town assisted by the English the Virgin of Orleans was takeâ in a Sally Besides King Cloatire Lewis II and V. and Henry III. have been interâââ in this Town in which are made severââ Manufactures and whence a great quantity of Wood is carried down to Paris Soissonnois The Diocess of Soissons above the River Aifne has the Dutchy of Valois on the West Laonnois and Champaigne on the West Brie on the South and Picardy on the North Soissons its Capital City is a very Antient City for in Caesars time it was already the Head of the Suessiones whose Jurisdiction was pretty large William the Britain a Latin Poet of France who lived in the Thirteenth Age says that it was built by some banished Sueves who imposed that Name upon it Whatever it may be sure it is that when Coesar subdued the Gauls Soissons had Twelve other Towns under it and could put Fifteen Thousand Men in Arms which were Smeden in their Capital During the Roman Emperors the Praetors of Belgick Gaule made their ordinary Residence in this City and under the French Kings of the first Race it has been some time the Capital of a Kingdom of that Name It is yet somewhat big and as a Bayliwick Presidial and generality and an Academy of Humane Learning which was the first that was associated to that of Paris It 's Bishop is the first Suffragan to the Arch-Bishop of Rheims he has the right of anointing the French Kings in the absence of his Metropolitan and has sometimes performed that Office This Diocess has Seventeen Parochial Churches besides the Cathedral Six Abbyes in the Town and Eighteen in the Country thereabouts and several Monasteries It 's Territory is fruitful in Corn with which Paris is chiefly provided Laonnois Laon was but at the beginning a Castle seated on the top of a Hill and called by the Inhabitants Laudunum and Lugdimum Clavatum in the Territory of Rheims Cloviâ the great increased it into a City and St. Remy Arch-Bishop of Rheims erected it into a Bishoprick making his Friend Genebaut Partner of the Gifts and Possessions he had received from that Prince Hugh Capet made this Bishop the Second of the Six Ecclesiastical Dukes and Peers of France because thââ Prelate had betrayed into his hands Charles of Lorrain his Competitor This is related by Du Chesne but if it be true 't is a wonder how this Bishop is not mentioned among the Suffragans of Rheims in a Notice or Catalogue of Bishops ending at the year 1220 and that in others of latter Date all quoted by Valesius he is put in the last rank Whatever it may be this Prelate assumes still the Title of Duke of Laon Peer of France and Count of Anisy and it appears that he had already some Temporal Jurisdiction in 1112 since Waldric Bishop of Laon was then kill'd endeavouring to keep his Citizens from entring into an association they had sworn against the Kings Consent Another nam'd Roger far'd better in an undertaking of the same Nature for at the head of some Troops he routed his Diocesans who had sworn an Association with the French King Lewis the Burly's leave This Town was besieged Twice by Lewis IV. who was taken Prisoner there This Diocess has Two places renowned for many pretended Miracles The first is Nostre-Dame-de-Liesse or our Lady of Joy the second is called St. Marcoul whether the French Kings must needs undertake a Pilgrimage immediately after their coming to the Crown if they will get the power of curing the Kings-Evil Noyonnois Noyon is seated betwixt Three small Brooks called La Versette La Golle and La Marguerite near the River Oyse Nine Leagues East of Laon and almost Eight of Scissons It 's an Antient City called by the Latins Noviomagus The Bishoprick of St. Quentin was transferred thither in 524 after the Town had been ruined by the Vandals This Prelates Jurisdiction was formerly very great since all Flanders depended on him before Tournay was erected into a Bishoprick in 1146. However the Bishop of Noyon is still one of the Antient Counts and Peers of France This City has had several misfortunes for it was plunder'd by the Normans in 859 and
East of La Fere is the Town and Castle of Crecy upon Serre Creciacum ad Saram Seven Miles North-East of Crecy the Town of Marle Marna Castrum which had formerly a strong Castle and its particular Lords Mayor and Sworn Officers Seven Miles to the North of Marle lies the Town of Vervins famous for a Treaty of Peace concluded there between the French King Henry IV and Philip III. King of Spain in 1598. Seven Miles Eastward is the Town of Aubenton upon a River of that Name and at the same distance over against Marle the Town of Moncornet Mons Cornutus or the Horn-Mountain because it is seated upon the Two Tops of a Mountain that have the shape of a pair of Horns La Cappelle is a strong Town on the Frontiers of Haynaut Seven Miles North of Vervins built in the last Age to stop the Incursions of the Netherlanders It has bââ often taken and re-taken by the Spaniaââ and the French There are some other placâ less considerable as Hierson Iritio aboââ Five Leagues from the Source of the Oyââ it was ruin'd under the last Reign by ãâã Spaniards Estree-au-pont Strata ad Ponââ on the same River Two Leagues South of Lâ Cappelle Rosoy Rosetum 2 Leagues North-Eââ of Moncornet S. Michael and Foifny Two Aâbyes the first of St. Bennets the second ãâã Cisteaux Fleo Major le grand Floyon ãâã Native Countrey of S. Vrsmar Abbot ãâã Lob Le Petit-Floyon Autrepe Altaripa Aâ this Countrey depends for the Spiritual ãâã the Bishop of Laon except Ruminiacum ãâã the Borders of Champaign Three Mileâ South-East of Aubenton which is under thâ Arch-Bishop of Rheims Vermandois This Countrey which retains still the Name of its Antient Inhabitants called by Caesar Veromandui was much larger than ãâã is now since it comprehended the Dioceââ of Noyon Soissons and Laon but now it haâ not above Six Leagues East and West and Nine or Ten North and South I shall not determine whether St. Quentin upon the Somme is the Augusta Veromanduâum of thâ Antients or whether it be Vermand upon the âronignon that is now but an Abby The âurious may consult Cluvier and Sanson who âaintain the last Opinion and de Valois âho defends the first Sure it is that St. Quentin has got its Name from one Quinâinus who was Bishop of that Town and âs said to have been beheaded there under âhe Empire of Dioclesian Before the Bishoprick was transferred to Noyon the Colleâlate Church of St. Quintin was a Cathedral This Town was formerly a County belonging to the Counts of Vermandois but ãâã was re-united to the Crown of France âome time after the year 1156. In 1557 the Spaniards knowing that St. Quintin was ânprovided with Men and ill fortified laid siege before it The Admiral of Coligny had got into the place with a few Troops and his Name and Valour were for some time the best âampier of that Town which saith Morery as partial as he is against the Protestants was not able without him to withstand such an Army Four and Twenty Hours The High Constable of Montmorency attempting the relieving of this place was defeated and taken Prisoner with the Dukes of Monâpensier and Longueville the Marshal of St. Andre Ten Knights Three Hundred Gentlemen and Five Thousand Soldiers The Number of the Dead was not less and because this Baââle was fought the 10th day of August it was called the Battle of ãâã Lawrence in memory of which Philip I King of Spain dedicated to that Saint tââ Palace called the Escurial near Madrid Thâ Victory made the Spaniards Masters of aâ Vermandois and the Diocess of Noyon Hoâever St. Quentin was restored to the Frenâ by the Peace of Chateau-Cambresis in 155â though this Treaty was not much otherwiâ to the Honour of France Three Leagues South of St. Quentin ãâã the Durchy of St. Simon and Three Milâ farther the Town of Ham both upon thâ Somme This last is strong and well fortifiââ being built in a Plain and having the Râver on one side and a Marsh on the otherâ a Citadel with Four Bastions and a Squaââ Tower It was fitst a Burrough built bâ the Antient French since Ham in the German Tongue signifies a Burrough Durinâ the Wars of the League the Lord of Mââ Gomeron Governour of the place dying ãâã 1595 his Three Sons went to Bruxels ãâã demand their Arrears and were detaineâ Prisoners by the Spaniards till they should deliver the Castle into their hands Bââ Dorvilliers their Brother by the Mothââ side whom they had intrusted with ãâã Government of the Town in their absenâ would not consent to it and having call'â the Nobility of Picardy to his help Hââ was taken by Storm and the Spanish Garrâson cut into pieces The Castelet is a strong Fortress on the Fronââ of Cambresis which was restored to the ââch by the Peace of Pyrenees in 1659. Santerre âOing Westwards from the Castelet you enter into the Countrey of Santerre which âe call Seme-terre because of its fertility âis above twenty two Leagues Northwest Southeast and but seven or eight East and âst where it is broadest Peronne its âpital five leagues South-West of Castelet alââst seven West of St. Quintin and eleven East ãâã Amiens is a very strong Town both by âson of its scituation upon the River and aâng Marshes and of its Fortification It was ãâã a Village wherein Erchinoald Mayor of the âace built a Monastery 1070 on behalf of ãâã Irish Monk call'd Furseus whence it got ãâã name of the Abby of the Scots King Charles ãâã VII had yielded Peronne to Philip the good âke of Burgundy in 1435 however that âewd Politician King Lewis the XI was so âsident as to come to Peronne in order to âferr with Charles the Rash the then Duke of ârgundy at the same time that he had raised ãâã Liegemen against him This Prince tho ãâã otherwise very cunning made use of so faâârable an occasion kept the King a Prisoner âced him to yield Champaign and Brie to his âother and brought him before Liege to be âectator of his Victory as really he was for that City was taken by Storm ransack'd burnt the 30th of October 1468. Eleven miles West of Peronne is the Tâ of Ancre upon a River of that Name it ãâã the Title of Marquizate and is known at ãâã sent under the name of Albert. In 1600 a Florentin call'd Concino Cââ came out of Italy under the Quality of Geâman Usher to Mary of Medicis Henry the IV. Queen and by his shrewdness or good pâ came to be Marquess of Ancre Lord Marshââ France Governour of Normandy and the âtadel of Amiens and to have the chief maâment of Affairs under the minority of K. Lâ XIII But at last either by Envy misusiââ his Favour or the weakness of that Monaâ who as Bassompiere expresly observes conââed to his Death he was murther'd by a Conâracy of the Great upon the Drawbridge of âvre the 24th of
April 1617. Moreuil upon the Auregne is above ãâã leagues Southwest of Peronne and Mondidier ãâã This last is strong has a particular Governâ and has often repulsed the Spaniards ãâã Town of Roye is four leagues Northeast of ââdider It is a Lordship which has given ãâã Name to the noble Family of Roye that subâ from the tenth or eleventh Century Creââ is a small Town with the Title of a Marquiââ 8 leagues West of Mondidier Nesle is anââ small Town which has given the Title of Mâquess to a noble and Ancient Family in tâ Countrey whence are issu'd high Constables France as Raoul de Nesle under Philip the bâ It is scituated upon the little River Ignoââ âgnon above four Leagues South of Peronne and âe miles North-east of Roye It was taken by âarles the rash last Duke of Burgundy in 1472 âd all its Inhabitants were either put to the âord hang'd or had their Fists cut off beâuse they had killed one of the Dukes Heralds âhom he sent to summon them and withal two âhis men during a Truce Chaunes a Dutchy âd Peerdom erected by Lewis XIII in 1621. âscituated between Nesle and Peronne Halluin ãâã Maignelay is another Dutchy and Peerdom ârdering to Beauvaisis six leagues South-west ãâã Roye Amienois THIS Countrey is otherwise called Proper Picardy and is extended about ten leagues ââst and West where it is broadest and twenââ North and South But formerly it reached âuch farther as appears yet by the Jurisdictiââ of the Bishop of Amiens which compreâends besides this Countrey that of Vimeux ând Ponthieu and a good part of the County of ârtois It is watered with several Brooks and âivers and beautified with divers small Woods âhe first Town you meet with coming from âanterre is the Town of Corbie upon the Somme âear its receiving another small River that âkes here the name of Corbie It has the Title âf a County and was but at the beginning an Abby founded by King Clotaire the III. and his Queen Bathilde in 662. The famous Rairâ who opposed the monstrous Tenet of Tranâstantiation in its very Birth was Monk in ãâã Abby Corby is yet a strong Town which ãâã Spaniards had surprized in 1636 but soâtime after being besieged in it and streightâ by the French 't is said that they wrote to Priâ Thomas of Savoy their General in the followâ words O Lord have mercy on us as we have trâed in thee Fiat miserecordia tua Domine sââ nos quem ad modum speravimus in te Four Leagues farther upon the same Riââ is the Town and Bishoprick of Amiens suffââgan to Rheims and Capital of this whole Gâvernment Its Foundation is uncertain tho ãâã be very Ancient since the Ambiani who douââ-less signifie the Inhabitants of the Amiââ were already powerful in Caesar's time Thâ Capital was then call'd Samarobriva a Gaulâ name that signifies Samara's bridge for the âver Somme was then call'd Samara and aftâwards Sumina as Samarobriva it self lost ãâã name in process of time and took that of Aâbiani from its Inhabitants Several Roman Eâperorâ strove to beautifie it and some took ãâã for their Residence-place when they were ãâã the Gauls but in the fifth sixth and folloâing Ages it was much annoy'd and impaireâ by the Incursion of the Alains Vandals aââ Normans so far that it was almost wholly buââed in 925. In 1329 Edward III. King of Enâland made here homage to King Philip of Vâlois for the Dukedom of Guyenne and Counââ of Ponthieu in the presence of the Kings ãâã Aragon Navarr Bohem and Majorque ãâã were then gathered to undertake a Journey and âlitary Expedition into the Holy Land This âonarch began to fortifie Amiens in 1347 but ãâã was Lewis XI who brought this Design to ây perfection In the Month of March 1597 âe Spaniards took this City by a War-strataâm having caused a Cart full of Nuts to be âoken as by chance within one of the Gates âd while the Garrison was gathering the ânts and the Gate could not be shut the Spaâsh Army that was hard by fell upon them âd master'd the Town But Henry IV. retook ãâã with plain Force before the end of the Year âd then raised there a Cittadel which was âcounted in his time one of the best and most âgulâr in Europe This City has a Bailiwick âresidial and Generality Its Rampiers are aâorned with great Alleys of Trees The River âomme enters into the Town by three Chanââls and serves for the use of several Manufaâures Its Cathedral is one of the biggest and ânest in the Kingdom There they make a âow of several pretended Reliques as the Boây of St. Firmin first Bishop of Amiens in Dioâesian's time of St. Dominick of St. John the âaptists head Amiens had during an Age or âwo its particular Counts but they were deârived of their Sovereignty by Lewis the Burly âbout the year 1109. Pequigni three leagues almost from Amiens âpon the same River is remarkable for the Death of William surnamed Long-sword Duke âf Normandy whom Baldwin Count of Cambray âr Arnoul Count of Flanders caused to be killed âhere And for defeat of the English who were known in a Pass from the French becââ they could not pronounce the word Pequiââ as directly as a Frenchman born Add to ãâã that the Steward of the Bishoprick of Aâââ bears the Title of Vidame of Pequigni Four leagues South of Amiens is the Prâcipality of Conti upon the River Celle and âmiles more Eastwards the Principality of ãâã upon the same River they are both sââ but very pleasant because of the many Wââ and Game with which they abound Two leagues East of Poix on the Frontier ãâã Normandy three miles North-west of Aâââ lies the Burrough and Lordship of Ligneres ãâã famous for having given its name to the Faââ of that late Traytor Bartholomew of Grandval ãâã at the instigation of the French King and ãâã Councellors would have murthered His Mâsty William III. King of Great Brittain Seven leagues almost on the North of Aâens lyes the strong Town of Dourlens or Dâlens Donincum upon the Authie near the bordâ of Artoys It was already a Strong-hold in ãâã when the French K. Raoul took it upon one âribert It belonged afterwards to the Coââ of Ponthieu but was yielded by the Couââ Mary to Lewis VIII in 1225 and since aliââted from the Crown of France and given ãâã Philip III. Duke of Burgundy in 1435 and ãâã united to it in 1463 Antony of Bayencourt eâjoyed Dourlens in the last Age but the Kiââ Attorney seized on it in 1559 and caused it ãâã be reunited to the Royal Demesne Dourleâs ãâã divided into high and low Town both very wâ fortified Vimeux âAmson the Father confounds this Countrey with that of Ponthieu but more modern Geoâphers as Robbe and Samson the Son distinguish âem and the Learned Collections of Adrian ãâã Valois in his Notitia Galliarum are agreeable ãâã it According then to the last Pagus
Vineâcus the Land of Vimeux is included between ânienois and Normandy from which it is seâârated by the River Bresle call'd likewise Auââ and betwixt the Sea and the River Somme âat divides it from the County of Ponthieu âs extended above 14 leagues East and West âom Molien le Vidame in Amienois to Cayeu on âe Sea-cost and 5 North and South from S. ââlery to Bauchen upon the Bresle S. Valery ââe Capital is seated on a Hill near a Bay made ây the mouth of the Somme and call'd S. Valery âr mer to distinguish it from another Sea-town ãâã Normandy call'd S. Valery en Caux or S. Vaâry les Plains It 's Port is not extreamly good âecause of the great quantity of Downs that âre about it neither are Cayeu Cadocum Augst ãâã Augusta better tho they seem to have formerly âeen of some Consideration Notwithstanding âhe Countrey is fill'd with a vast number of Villages and good Burroughs whereof the chief âre Bauchen Gamaches a Marquizate Anssennes ând Sennerpont all upon the Bresle Arguel Riencour Oysemont Bailleul whence John de Bailleul that became King of Scotland wââther Lord or Ordinary or of another âleul in the Countrey of Dieppe Ponthieu THis County included between the Riââ Somme and Canche on the South and Noââ the Ocean on the West Amienois and Artoiââ the East is about nine leagues East and Wââ and nine or ten North and South It is waââed with many fine Rivers as the Somme ãâã Maye Authie c. It was in former Aââ but thinly inhabited because of the mââ Woods that almost took up the whole Coâtrey but it s now very thick peopled tâ there be still several Forrests This County ãâã been often given in Portion to the Cââdren of the French Kings and has had befââ its particular Counts since the tenth Centuââ In 1279 Eleanor of Castile Heiress of Ponthââ was Married to Edward I. King of England ãâã brought this County to these Monarchs whâ was the occasion of many bloody Wars Abbeville upon the Somme is the Capââ of this County eight or nine leagues Nortâwest of Amiens It is one of the biggest aâ strongest in this Province and some will ãâã it was never taken for which reason they ãâã it the Faithful or the Virgin City of that Coââtrey It has a Bailiwick Presidial five Gaââ twelve or thirteen great Parishes and seveâ Monasteries The River Somme and the small âver Cardon which discharges it self into it âake it a great Trading Town and give it the ânveniency of exchanging its Linnen Cloth âooll and Corn for other Commodities that âe brought in Boats from the Sea into the very âown 'T is uncertain in what time this City âas built for I find no mention made of it beââre the tenth Century That Hugh Capet gave ãâã in Portion to his Daughter Giselle Howâer it seems by the Original of the Name of âbbeville Abbattis villa that it was built by âme Abbot of St. Riquier for there is yet a âown of that Name two leagues North-east âon the River Cardon which Opinion Adrian ãâã Valois seems to confirm Abbeville has lately produced the best Geoâaphers of France as Nicolas Sanson who dyââ 1667 William Sanson his Son and Peter du âl who are yet alive for ought I know and the âesuit Philip Briet who died in 1669. It is said âat in 1636. some Women disguised in Mens âoaths fought the Spaniards near S. Riquier âd brought away two of their Colours Nine miles North-west of Abbeville on the âorthside of the mouth of the Somme is the Seaâort Town Le Crotoy Two leagues South east ãâã Abbeville is an important passage in an âland formed by the same River called Pontâ-Remi near to which are to be seen the reâains of one of Caesar's Camps Rue upon the âaye five leagues North-west of Abbeville is a ârong Town by reason of its scituation being âviron'd with Marshes and having a Pond or âake on the East-side Near the source of the same River is ãâã Burrough of Crecy which gives its name ãâã Forrest hard by but is much more famous ãâã a Battel fought there between the English ãâã the French in 1346 King Edward III. coâ into Ponthieu of which he was Lord encââed at the Village of Crecy King Philip of Vâ came to encounter him on the 26th of Aâgâ But the last was totally routed and left 30ââ Foot upon the spot and 1200 Horse beââ that he lost fourscore Colours and the Fâââer of his Nobility as John of Luxenburg ãâã of Bohem. Charles Count of Alencon the Kiââ Brother Raoul Duke of Lorrain the Count ãâã Flanders Harcourt and Sanserre the Dauphââ Viennois c But the greatest mischief for ãâã French was that a Fog having kept them sââ the sight of the Enemy till nine or ten a Clâ in the morning the English in the mean wâ planted the Colours they had taken fââ them upon a height which the deceiââ French taking for their own resorted to thâ and received a greater overthrow than the ãâã day Their dead Bodies were Interred by Kâ Edward's order at Monstreuil and the burââ lasted 3 days Crecy had formerly a Royal House whâ Ebroin Mayor of the Palace besieg'd when ãâã Warr'd against K. Thierry and his Mayor Lâââsius and took both the King and the Town Fredegarius relates The Town of Monstreââ scituated upon the Canche nine leagues ãâã of Abbeville five North-west of Crecy and tââ East of the Sea It was but at first a Villaâ which encreased into a Town by the builââ ãâã a Castle and of a Monastery by S. Salvius ââshop of Amiens where he would be Intterr'd âd whence it has gotten the name of Monasteââlum Monstreuil or Monstrelet Besides there âe still two Ancient Abbyes of St. Bennets Orâr one of Monks and the other of Nuns âng Philip I. having divorced from him his âife Berthe sent her away to this Town upââ which he assigned her Dowry and where âe dyed in 1093. Monstreuil is divided into âpper and lower Town and has a strong Citâdel and Baillwick Great Bâats can go up âhe River by the help of the Tide to this âown Boulenois THis County is but 13 or 14 leagues long North and South and about 7 broad East and West It was Anciently inhabited by the Morini as well as Teronane if it be true that Boulogne is the Gesoriacum of Pliny and Ptolomy It is still the most mountainous paât of Picardy especially along the Coast which render them almost unaccessible However it does not want either Woods or Rivers and affords such a good race of Horses that the Inhabitants can furnish 3000 Troopers It was erected into a County together with St. Paul Guines and Artois by Charles the Bald Emperor and King of France when he marryed his Daughter Judith to Baldwin Ironside Count of Flanders in 863. The County of Boulogne was successiâ enjoyed by several illustrious Houses whââ allied themselves at one time or other with
ãâã Kings of England France and Portugal but fiââly remained to the Counts of Auvergne Tââ last of them called Bertrand the second exchââged it with Lewis XI for the County of Laââgais in 1477 and that this Agreement migââ never be broken the shrewd King preseââ our Lady of Boulogne with it In 1544. Hââ VIII King of England took Boulogne fortified ãâã lower Town of it and built several Forts iâ the Countrey but seeing that the keeping ãâã this Town would cost him much more than ãâã was worth he agreed with the French King Henry II. to restore it to him for the Summeâ 80000 Crowns to be paid in eight Years Thâ Treaty was concluded in 1549 but I do not heââ that is was ever performed as to the paying oâââ the money Boulogne Capital of this County is a Seâport formerly Renown'd for being the ordinary passage from Gaul into Great Brittain bââ at present not very commodious some say thâ it was spoil'd by a Bank that the Emperor Maximinian caus'd to be rais'd before it It is divided into upper ând lower Town and seated upon the River Liane sixteen leagues north of Abbeville It has a Bishoprick suffragan to Rheims since the year 1566 nine years after that Teroanne was razed But De Valois pretends that the Bishoprick was rather restor'd to that City or fired in it than instituted anew because those Prelates were styl'd Bishops of Boulogne and Teroanne that the first as well as the last are call'd Givitââ Morinorum and that the name of City is never given by Ancient Authors but to an Episcopal See There was formerly near the Haven an Octogone Tower called in French la Tour d'Ordre and by the English the Old man it s said to have been built by Caesar It was eighty foot in Circuit and Charlemaign looking upon it as a fit place for a Beacon caused it to be repaired but his Successors given either to Wars or to Pleasures suffer'd it to decay so far that it fell some 20 years ago The most considerable Buildings of Boulogne are the Cittadel the Cathedral Church of our Lady to whom the French Kings at their coming to the Crown are bound to offer a Heart of pure Gold weighing 2000 golden Crowns There are besides the Parochial Churches of St. Nicholas and St. Joseph the Abby of St. Willmore and the Palace where the Baily keeps his Seat Some take Boulogne for the Portus Iccius of Caesar but Adrian de proves that it is the Gesoriacum of Pliny which name about Constantine the Great 's time chang'd into that of Bononia The other Towns and considerable Buroughs are Bournonville Monthulin upon or near the Liane four or five leagues East of Boulogne Ambleteuse a Sea-port two leagues north of the same it s the same that Beda calls Amfleat or Amfleot which denotes a place where the Sea ebbs and flows Estaples Stapulae upon the mouth of the Canche almost six leagues south of Boulogne De Valois believes it to be the Portus Iccius of Caesar because Ptolomy distinguishes Portus Iccius from Gesoriacum and puts them in the Countrey of the Morini 'T is a small Town well fortified famous for being the Native Countrey of James le Fevre who for his Learning did deserve the Praises of the Roman Catholicks tho he was one of the chief Promoters of the Reformation The Recover'd Countrey THat which the French call Pais Reconquis is a small Tract of Land that has not above five leagues in length North and South and as much East and West where it is broadest coming from Boulogne you enter into the Principality of Ardres Arda or Ardea the chief Town of which is seated upon a Hill and divided into upper and lower both well fortified Before the year 1067 it was but a Village erected into a Town out of the Ruines of the Castle of Selnesse by one Arnoul Lord of that place or as others pretend by one Arnold Lord of Ardres with the Consent of Baldwin Count of Guines by reason of the great number of Shepherds who resorted to that place for its excellent Pasture-ground In 1520 Francis I. and Henry VIII had an Interview near this Town their Court was so brisk and their Attendants so richly adorn'd that the place is yet called The Field of the Golden Cloth Cardinal Albert of Austria took this Town in 1596 but restored it to the French King Henry IV. three years after by the Treaty of Vervins Guisnes is a small Town 3 miles North-west of Ardres and above 3 leagues from the Sea It has the title of a County and formerly the Towns and Burroughs of Ardres Fiennes Witsant Andriae Bredenarde Sangate and Colemude depended on it Sifri a Dane took it from the Monks of Sithiu or S. Omer and made homage of it to Arnoul Count of Flandres who countenanced him Before the French took it from the English it was environ'd with strong Forts as Blanes and St. Inglevert It came in the hands of the English under King John of France the same way that a late Conquerer has usurped so many Towns The Governour of Guisnes being gone to a Festival of the Knights of the Star Edward K. of England bought the Town from his Lieutenant There was then a Truce between the two Monarchs and therefore the wronged King John would have resented this match as a breach of it But Edward answered That this Assertion was contrary to the doctrine of late Philip of Valois the French Kings Father for when an English Traytor that would have sold to him the Town of Calice was discovered this Prince coldly answered that such Negotiations did not break a Truce The County of Oyâ is separated from that of Guisnes by a small River which Duchesne calls a Channel drawn from the Sea 'T is a Countrey of about 4 leagues in length and 3 in breadth Modern Geographers speak of some wavering Marshes and swimming Islands between this Countrey and that of Guisnes Calice is now one of the strongest Towns and the very Key of France towards England for its Fortifications consist in nine great Bastions besides those of the Cittadel and several Out-Works lin'd with stone It has a double Ditch very large and deep that can be filled with the River Hames that runs along its Walls There is also a Marsh and several Brooks that render the approach of this Town very difficult neither can one go to it but upon the Causey or madeway called the Bridge of Nieullay As to the Haven its Entry is defended by a Fort call'd the Risban and it is divided into two the smaller is called Cadegray the bigger is shut up by two Moles faced with stone Five years ago the present French King begun to build a Mole upon great piles droven into the sand beneath the low-Water-mark which will be 30 yards wide and make an Harbour fit to receive third or fourth Rates Men of War whereas a good Merchant-man cannot get into the present Havens This
Peerdom erected by the French King Henry II. in 1547. in behalf of Claudius of Lorrain Youngest Son to the Duke of Guise Aumale had its particular Counts in the twelfth Century afterwards it fell to the share of the House of Ponthieu and then of the House of Lorrain This Town is Noted for its Woollen Cloth and an Ancient Abby of St. Bennets Order Eleven miles South-west of Aumale near the source of the Epte is the Village of Forges renown'd for its Medicinal Waters Longueville Longa villa or Longus vicus a Burrough upon the River Sie eight leagues North of Rouen and four South of Dieppe was formerly a County and has been enjoyed under that Title by the famous Bertrand du Guesclin High Constable of France In 1443. Charles VII gave it to another great Warrior John Count of Dunois Bastard of the House of Orleans whence are descended the Dukes of Orleans Longueville who enjoy still that Lordship erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1505 bâ Lewis XII Five leagues West of Longueâââ and ten North-west of Rouen lyes the Bâârough of Estouteville Stota villa with the Title of a Dutchy erected by Francis I. in 153â It has given its Name to an Illustrious Familâ ever since the 11th Century However Na Sanson the Father has forgotten it in his Map Eight leagues Northwest of Rouen and 5 mile North of Caudebec lyes the small Village of Yvetot with the Title of a Principality and formerly with that of a Kingdom as many French Authors pretend It was erected by the Frencâ King Clotaire I. to make amends for the Death of Walter Lord of Yvetot whom he had murdered in a Church at Soissons In consequence of the Law of the mannors that frees the Tenant of any subjection to his Liege Lord if the said Lord breaks any of his Bones or cuts any of his Members In an Ancient Record of the Court of Exchequer in Normandy and Patentees of the French Kings in the Years 1392 1401 1450 1464 the Lords of Yvetot are entituled Kings and their Soveraignty and Independency is asserted At the Coronation of Mary of Medicis Henry IV. Queen This Prince observing that the Master of the Ceremonies had assigned no place to Martin du Bellay Lord of Yvetot I will saith he that an Honourable Place be given to my little King of Yvetot Four leagues North-east of Rouen is another Village call'd Cailly which seems to be some remains of an Ancient Town ruined by the Romans that bore the Name of Casletum if we believe Duchesne Bray BRAY is an ancient Gaulish word that marks a Marshy and Dirty place and 't is the beginning or end of several Towns in France As to this Countrey it is included between the Bailiwicks of Gisors Rouen and Caux and so very small that several Geographers forget to mention it The most considerable places are La Ferté Fleury and Gournay of which I find nothing in my Authors unless that near Gournay was given a Battle between the English and the French in 1112 where the last were routed Roumois BEtwixt the Seyne and the Bishopricks of Lizieux and Evreux is included the small Countrey of Roumois Rotmensis pagus which by the Original of its Name seems to have made part of the Territory of Rouen It has not above eight leagues in length and as many in breadth from Brienne upon the Rille to Quevilly two leagues off of Rouen where the French Protestants of that City had their Temple The other Burroughs are Quillebeus upon the Seyne which might be extraordinarily fortified Montfort Mauny c. These four Countries last describ'd make up the Archbishopprick of Rouen The Bishoprick of Evreux THis Diocess is included between the Rivers Seyne and Carenton the Countrey of Roumois and the Bishopricks of Seez and Chartres It is above 17 or 18 leagues North and South and 15 or 16 East and West It was the habitation of the Aulerci Eburovices The Capital Evreux Mediolanum Aluercorum is seated upon the River Iton in a fruitful Plain and has several good Buildings Churches Abbies and Monasteries a Bishoprick Bailiwick and Presidial 'T is said that it was converted to Christianity by St. Taurin who was the first Bishop of it The most renowned of his Successors was Cardinal Du Perron that subtle Controversist who was a Protestant Apostate In Caesar's time the Senonois the Parisians and their Neighbours had a General of Evreux call'd Camalogenus Aulercus whom they oppos'd to Liabienus Evreux has had its Particular Counts issued from the Dukes of Normandy It was erected into a County and Peerdom by Lewis X in 1316 thence it came into the hands of the Kings of Navarr from whom it was redeemed by the French King Charles VI. in 1404. erected into a Dutchy in 1569 by Charles IX and given to his Brother the Duke of Alencon after whose Death it was reunited to the Crown of France in 1584 and exchang'd with the Duke of Bouillion for the Principality of Sedan in 1652. Five leagues West of Evreux near a place where the Rille hides it self under the Ground lyes Beaumont le Roger Bellus mons Rogerii with the Title of a County It was built by a Count call'd Roger whose Name it bears and strongly fortified Raoul of Meulant sold it to the French King Lewis IX in 1255 and Charles III. King of Navarr to whom it did belong âs being Count of Evreux exchanged both Counties with the French King Charles VI. for the Dutchy and Peerdom of Nemours in 1404. Two leagues North of Beaumont le Roger lyes the Castle of Harcourt Harecortis formerly a good Burrough which has given its Name and the title of Counts to a Noble Family that has been renowned since the beginning of the twelfth Century to the end of the last Age that it fell to the share of the House of Lorrain by the Marriage of Renatus of Lorrain Marquess of Elbeuf with Louise of Rieux Heiress of Harcourt in 1574. Vernon upon the Seyne lyes 7 leagues East of Evreux and ten South-east of Rouen Some think that it had formerly a Royal Palace or Castle call'd Verno or Vernum where two Councils were kept in 755 and 844. but De Valois proves that Verno was the Name of this place and that the Royal House of Vernum was either Ver near Crespi en Valois between Paris and Compiegne or Verneuil upon the Oyse Seven leagues South of Evreux upon the River Aure lyes the Burrough of Nonancourt which has given its Name to Cardinal Nicholas of Nonancourt who was famous about the end of the thirteenth Age and descended from an Ancient House Five miles higher to the West upon the same River is the Town of Tilleres or Tuillieres Tegulariae so call'd from the Stichel-stones that were prepared there It was built by Richard Duke of Normandy but is now almost ruined Remounting the said River one meets with the Town of Vernueil Vernolium erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom by Lewis
them with abundance of Butter and Milk and their Sea-ports make them the best Fishers and Mariners in France The Inhabitants appear Clownish but are really shrewd and cunning Tho' Pliny asserts l. 4. c. 17 19. That the Galli call'd in their own Language Aremorica the Countrey included between the Garumne the Sea and the Pyrenean Mountains which the Romans nam'd afterwards Aquitain yet it appears that Caesar and other Ancient Geographers understood by Armorica and Armorici the Nations and Cities bordering upon the Ocean from the mouth of the Seyne to that of the Loire so that the Ancient Armorique comprehended all Brittany and a good part of Normandy that is all the third Lyonnoise and about one half of the second but this Name deriv'd from an old Gaulish word Armor Ad mare or near the Sea became in process of time proper to Britanny Beda relates l. 1. c. 1. That in old times some Armoricans came over into our Island and master'd the Southern parts of it however 't is not from them that our Ancestors got the Name of Brittains since these Gauls were only known by that of Armorici whereas it cannot be doubted but that our Brittains gave their Name to Brittanny Annal. Egin ad An. 786. For Eginhard testifies that about the Year 441. at the beginning of Valentinian's Empire the English and Saxons having invaded our Island a great part of the Inhabitants put to Sea and Landing on the borders of Vannes and Cornouaille made themselves Masters of the Countrey Accordingly we find one Mansuetus Bishop of these Brittains subscribing to the Council of Tours in 461. Our Refugees made not long since a great Figure in the World for about the end of the fifth Age their King ââothimas having made a League with the Emperor Anthemius against the Goths was defeated by them on the borders of Berry before he could joyn with his Confederates and lost in that Battle the best part of 12000 men So great a loss however was not able to run them altogether down for we find that even in the following Century they were a Terror to the French so that Clovis the Great 's Grand-Children Theodebert and Thierry were forc'd to keep Counts and Marquesses on the Frontiers to oppose the Incursions of the Brittains into the Territory of Nants They being so Warlike and their Castles and Forts being surrounded with Woods and Marshes the Captains of Charlemaign were not like to have subdued them as they did about the end of the eighth Century had they not divided themselves into several petty principalities notwithstanding they recover'd their liberty under Charles the Bald by the Valour of Nomenoius and Herispoius his Son to whom Charles yielded the Territories of Rennes Nantes and Retz when he saw that he could not recover them Others relate the Settlement and Adventures of our Brittains somewhat differently They say that about the Year 393. a Brittish Captain called Conan Meriadoc Lieutenant to Maximus who had been saluted Emperor in England in 382. obtained leave of his Master to erect a Kingdom in Little Brittain which his Successors enjoyed independently from any other till about the Year 570. that Chilpric I. King of France made them Tributary After the Death of Judicael about the Year 700 This Kingdom was rent into several petty Principalities so that Charlemaign had no great trouble to subdue them as he did in 787. Neomenes or Nomenoius descended from the Ancient Kings of Brittany was made Lieutenant to the Emperor Lewis the Meek but he revolted against him took the Title of King and dyed in 852. Heruspeus or Herispoius his Successor maintain'd the War against the French King till 866. that he was kill'd by his Cousin Solomon This last reigned 12 years and was murdered in 878. After his Death this Province was rent again by several Lords who made themselves Soveraigns in their respective Countries This lasted to the Year 930 or 935. that Alain I. subdued the whole Province and enjoyed it under the Title of County He was succeeded by twelve or thirteen more who possesesed it under the same Title but in all Soveraignty till a French Prince called Peter of Dreux Grandson to the French King Lewis the Burly having married Alix Heiress of this County in 1213. consented to acknowledge the French King Lewis IX for his Liege Lord who in recompense gave him the Title of a Duke And for having thus betray'd the Liberties of the Brittains he was surnamed by them the Duke Mauclerc that is The Ignorant or unskilful Duke Philip the fair King of France made John II. Grand-child to Peter Mauclerc Duke and Peer of France After the Death of John III. surnamed the Good in 1341. there hapned a long and bloody War between two pretenders to this Dutchy John IV. surnamed of Monfort and Charles of Blois John was Son to Arthur II. by a second Wife Charles had Spoused Jane Countess of Ponthievre Grand Daughter to the said Arthur The French King Philip of Valois maintained Charles and Edward III. King of England took the part of John This Quarrel lasted about 14 or 15 Years till John V. Son to the said John of Montfort totally routed and killed his Competitor Charles at the Battel of Aury in 1364. This Great Duke surnamed the Warlike and the Conqueror was succeeded by six others the last of whom Francis H. left but one Daughter Ann Dutchess and Heiress of Brittain Married to the French King Charles VIII and then to Lewis XII She had a Daughter by the last called Claudia Married to the French King Francis I. whose Son Henry II. was the first King of France that was Duke of Brittain by Succession and United that Dutchy inseparably to his Crown The chief Rivers of Bretagne besides the Loire of which we have spoken in the General Description are the Vilaine Vicenonia which comes from a Place in the Maine called la Croisille washes Vitrey receives the Pinelle mixes with the Lille at Rennes then encreased with the waters of Seiche Bonau and Sevonne St. Aubin Ouste Adon falls into the Sea near the Isle of Mai t six leagues South-west of Vennes and four North of the mouth of the Loire The Blavet comes from the Bishoprick of Quimpercorentin runs thrô the Bishoprick of Vennes washes Pontivy and Hennebont and having received the Elle at his mouth discharges it self into the Sea at the bay of Blavet The Laita separates the Bishopricks of Vennes and Quim percorentin and having received the Isotte at the Abby of St. Croix runs into the Sea at the Abby of St. Maurice three or four leagues West of the Bay of Blavet The Rivers of Oder and Benaudet meet at Quimpercorentin and run into the Ocean at a Village called Benaudeâ The River Ausen or Auen washes the greatest part of this Bishoprick and falls into the Bay of Brest on the South-side which on the North-side receives the River Eloen The River of Morlaix washes the Town
of that Name separates the Bishopricks of St. Pol and Triguier and empties it self into the Bay of the Torean The Trieu receives the Lier and falls into the Sea between the Isles of St. Mande and Brehacy The Arguenon separates the Bishoprick of St. Brieux from that of St. Malo and runs into the Sea at Port of St. Cas. The River Rance comes from the borders of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux washes Dinant and empties it self into the Bay of St. Milo The Couesnon washes Foguâres Romazic Antraim where it receives the Aisance goes through Pont-Orson and falls into the Sea near Mount St. Michael Britany is divided into upper and lower or Eastern and Western Others divide it according to the Idioms that are spoken in its several Diocesses The Bishoprick of Rennes Dol and St. Malo speak French those of Quimpercorentin St. Pol. and Triguer speak Brittish and those of Nantes Vennes and St. Brieux make use of both These nine Bishopricks are all suffragans to the Archbishop of Tours There are several Islands round about this Province but for the most part inconsiderable and unhabited except it be the Isles of Wessant and Belle-Isle of which I shall speak under the Bishopricks on which they depend Of High Brittany The Bishoprick of Rennes RENNES Capital of Britanny is situated upon the meeting of the Rivers Vilaine and Lille eighteen leagues South of the Sea and Mount St. Michael and was already considerable in Caesars time who calls its Inhabitants Rhedones and Ptolomy the City it self Condate Redonum It remained under the Romans till Conan made himself King of Britany and established there the Seat of his Empire About the end of the fifth Century part of our Brittish Ancestors went over the Sea ransack'd and plunder'd this Town However it took its former lustre again and was still the ordinary Residence of the Dukes of Brittany who bore the Title of Counts of Rennes The most Ancient Bishop of Rennes is one Artemius who assisted at the first Council of Tours in 461. and to that of Vennes in 465. Before Henry II. instituted a Parliament at Rennes for the whole Dutchy of Brittany and made it Sedentary at the same time viz. in the Year 1553. there was a Senelchalship to which resorted the Diocesses of Rennes Dol St. Malo Cornouaille Vennes St. Brieux Leon and Triguier The Parliameat of Rennes was transferr'd to Vennes in 1675. for some discontent the French King had taken against its Citizens who unwillingly saw their priviledges invaded and were loth to pay his Exorbitant Taxes this Monarch little remembring how faithful this Town had been to his Ancestors during the Civil Wars Nevertheless he was not in such a Passion but that he restored them their Parliament in 1687. for a Summ of Money Besides the Cathedral Church of St. Peter Rennes has several Parochial Churches and Monasteries and the Abbies of St. Melaine St. George and St. Sulpice The Palace of its Parliament is built on the modern way and the Bell of its Clock is esteemed one of the biggest in the Kingdom The other Towns and considerable Burroughs of this Diocess are Vitrey Vitreium near the source of the Vilaine ten leagues South-east of Rennes with the Title of a Barony The French Protestants had there a considerable Church St. Aubin du Cormier perhapâ Cornutius Vicus Gregory of Tours testifies that in 579. the Brittains made an Incursion into the Countrey of Rennes and penetrated to this Cornutius Vicus Lewis of La Trimouille K. Charles VIII his General defeated here the Duke of Brittany and his Confederates in 1488. July 28. It lyes upon the River Couesnon four leagues North-west of Vitrey Fougeres near the source of the Couesnon Coetnus is about twelve leagues North-east of Rennes It has given its Name to a Noble Family and one of this Lords call'd Raoul de Fougeres fortified it and built there a good Castle It is so called from the quantity of Fern Fougere that grows thereabouts and this Countrey is so remarkable for Health in French Landes that two other Burroughs take their Name from thence viz. S. Sauveur des Landes and S. Gilles des Landes Antraim lyes upon the same River five leagues Northwest of Fougeres The Latins call it Interamnis because it s seated upon the meeting of the Couesnon and Aisance There was formerly a famous Monastery and the Emperor Charles the Bald had an Interview with Solomon King of the Brittains at this place in 863. Of the Bishoprick of Dol. THis Diocess the most Easterly of those that lye on the Sea-coast is bound on the West and South by that of St. Malo on the East by those of Rennes and Avranches and on the North by the Ocean It is hardly seven leagues North and South and three or four East and West Dol its Capital City is only considerable by its Bishoprick It is situated in a Marshy Plain above ten leagues North of Rennes four or five Northwest of St. Malo and seven North-east of Mont St. Michael The most ancient part of this Town is the Castle near which was founded an Abby by a Bishop called Samson in remembrance of a Serpent he had forc'd to fly thither It was erected into a Bishoprick in 566. whereof this Samson was the first Prelate according to Duchesne or rather in 844. under Neomenes King of Brittany according to the Jesuit Sirmond and De Valois The Dukes of Brittany laboured a long time to have this Church erected into an Archbishoprick and one Baldric Abbot of Bourgueil in Anjou calls John Archbishop of Dol and Metropolitan but at last Hugh one of his Prelates yielded of its Pretensions in behalf of the Metropolitan of Tours Near to this Foundation is an Abby of the Order of Cisteaux call'd Vicuville Of the Bishoprick of St. Malo THis Diocess reaches 20 leagues in length North and South 9 or 12 leagues East and West where it is broadest and in some places handly 2 or 3. It is included between the Sea and the Bishoprick of Dol on the North those of St. Brieux end Vennes on the West and South and that of Rennes on the East The Capital St. Malo is one of the best Sea-Port Towns in France tho' its access be somewhat difficult and defended by a strong Castle flank'd with great Towers surrounded with Ditches and kept by a good Garrison This Town is one of the Keys of France and considerable in time of Peace by its Trade into the Northern parts of Europe but much more in time of War for being a Nest of Sea-Robbers It is said that St. Malo is guarded by Dogs because the Garrison lest they should be surprized le ts out 12 Dogs that go round about the Walls which do not fail to bark at the Goers by This Town was built in an Island a mile from the Ruines of another more Ancient called Alet the remains of whose Walls Port and Castle are still to be seen It got this Name of St.
For thââ great Warrior had been a long while one of the French Protestants Generals and had maintained them a long time against their Persecutors He has left us Memoirs so extraordinary well written that they will make one doubt whether he could better sway the Sword ãâã manage the Pen. Guimené near the source of the Elle 15 miles West of Rohan has the Title of a Principality Malestroit lyes upon the River Ouste 17 miles South-west of Rohan The Island of Belle-Isle Calonesus is dependâng upon this Diocess and lyes about 5 leagues from the Coast and 13 or 14 South-west of Vennes It is about five or six leagues long East and West and three or four leagues broad North and South It has a Port called Sauâon and two or three Castles whereof that which lyes near the Port is somewhat strong This Island is considerable for its Salt-pits and for the Vessels that pass often near its Coast If we were Masters of this Island 10 or 12 light Frigats and as many at our Islands of Jersey or Guernsey could keep in awe all the French Privateers from Dunkirk to Bayonne and then we might really boast our Empire of the Sea Of the Bishoprick of Quimper-Corentin THis Countrey anciently Inhabited by the Curiosolites or corruptively Corosopites reaches 36 leagues East and West about 16 or 18 North and South where it is broadest and but 5 or 6 where it is narrowest The Capital City Ben situated where the River Benaudet falls into the Odder after it s gone round about its Walls is called Quimper-Corentin or Coruoaille The last Name seems to come from our fled Brittains and to have comprehended the Diocess of Treguier As to the first it is composed from the Ancient Name of the Town Quimper or Kemper and that of Corentin its first Bishop established by St. Martin of Tours in the fourth Century Adrian De Valois Not. Gall. p. 291. supposes it to be the Alauna of Aethicus and p. 166 167. the Vagorgitum of Pulomy Capital of the Arvii by reason that he makes them Neighbours to the Aulerci Diabâintes and the Namnetes and that neither he nor Strabo mention the Curiosolita The Sea ebbs and flows into the Port of Kemper and carries thither great Boats The Cathedral Church is a fine and Ancient Building with two great Towers Near the Gate call'd Tourbic is a Tower extraordinary big that formerly was the Towns-Castle Cornouaille called in the Ancient Charters Cornubia or Cornugallia had formerly its particular Counts and has now a Presidial It lyes 4 leagues North of the Sea and 28 West of Vennes Concarneau lyes in a Bay 5 leagues East of Cornouaille and 11 West of Blavet It has an extraordinary strong Castle Quimperlay lyes 7 leagues East of Concarneau and 2 North of the Sea on the meeting of the Rivers Laitta Isotte and another small River It was founded by Alain Coignard Count of Cornouaille Betwixt this Town and the Sea on the East-side are two famous Abbies of St. Bennets Order St. Croix and St. Morice separated by a Forrest Four leagues South-west of Quimper-Corentin are the Towns of Pol-David and Douarnenes near a Bay that bears their Name and is about 4 or 5 leagues deep and 2 or 3 broad Eight leagues North-west of Quimper-Corentin lyes in a Bay the Sea port of Audierne and 4 leagues farther the Isle of Sain Samnis or Sena remembred by Mella because of an Oracle of the Gaulish Mercury that was in it Chasteau-linâ is a considerable Burrough upon the River Aufen 7. leagues North of Quimper-Corentin and 6 North-east of Douarnenes The whole Countrey is mighty full of Woods and well watered with Rivers Besides the Abbies already mention'd you have there Langonet of St. Bennets Order Coetmaloen of Cisteaux or Cisternian Monks Bonrepos of Cisteaux too according to Du Val or of Premontré a sort of Austin Fryars according to Sampson Of the Bishoprick of Treguier THe Inhabitants of this Diocess make part of the Ancient Osismii who took up besides the Diocesses of St. Pol de Leon and St. Brieux and 't is not easie to determine whether of them is Vorganium accounted by Ptolomy the Capital of that People This Countrey lyes on the Sea-coast and is now but 12 leagues broad and long being included between the Bishopricks of St. Brieux Quimper-Corentin and St. Pol de Leon. The Capital Town call'd Treguier or Lantriguet is situated on the mouth of a Bay almost 11 leagues North-west of St. Brieux Its Bishop takes the Title of Count and the first is esteem'd to be an English man called Tudwal under whose Name the Cathedral Church is dedicated but this Town having been since ransack'd several times by the Saxons Danes and Normans we find no mention of its Prelates in History till the Year 1175. The famous Lawyer St. Yves who lived under the Reign of the French King Philip the Fair and having been related into the number of the Saints has been taken by the French Lawyers for their Patron was a Native of this Town Guingamp upon the River Trieu 8 leagues South-east of Treguier is the Capital of the Dutchy and Peerdom of Ponthievre erected by Charles IX in 1569. and an Ancient Lordship of the House of Estampes issued by Alliance from the Dukes of Brittany Lannion lyes upon the small River Loquet 2 leagues from the Sea and 5 South-west of Treguier A mile North-west near the same River are the Ruines of an Ancient City call'd in Brittish Cozqueoudet which is esteem'd by some the Civitas Osismiorum of the Latins and suppos'd to be demolish'd by the Danes Morlaix Mons Relaxus situated upon a Hill between two Vallies on a River of that Name is a considerable Town with two Suburbs several Churches a Town-house and an Hospital that is esteemed one of the finest Buildings in the Province It has also a good Haven into which the Tide brings up great Boats and Vessels of a hundred Tuns great Merchant-men lye at Anchor at the Bull-Fort or Fort du Taureau which is built in an Island 3 leagues Southwards This Town is renown'd for its Trade in Hemp Line and Linnen On the top of the Hill are to be seen the Ruines of an Ancient Castle Three miles South of Treguier lyes a Burrough call'd La Roche-Derrien famous for that Oliver of Clisson Father to the High Constable of that Name was Captain of it Of the Bishoprick of St. Pol De Leon. THis Countrey was under the Jurisdiction of the Osismii as I have already observed tho' Caesar gives to its Inhabitants the distinct Name of Lemovices which in process of time degenerated into that of Leonenses It s the most North-western part of Brittany but at present not above 18 leagues long and 8 broad The Capital St. Pol de Leon or Leondoul is an Ancient Bishoprick founded under the French King Chilprick I. in the sixth Century and its first Prelate was one Paul who has left his Name to the Town The
of Chatillon having defeated la Valette who came to relieve it and the Duke of Anjou not daring to ventuâe a Battle against that great Captain But the Protestant Nobility lured with the fair promises of Liberty of Conseience by that entreaguing Princess Katherine of Medicis rais'd voluntarily the Siege whereupon ensued the short Edict of Pacification at Longjumeau Ever since Chartres followed the party of the League till Anno 1591. Henry âhe Great took it and was there Crown'd and Anointed King of France the City of Rheims still persisting in its Rebellion If you ask whether they took Consecrated Oyl to perform that Ceremony Du Kerââer will answer you that there is another holy Ampull or Vial kept at Marmoutier an Abby near Tours for that purpose and that the Oyl of that Vial is no less Sacred than that of Rheims The River Eure divides Chartres into two inequal parts which lye partly on a Valley of difficult Access and partly at the end of a large Plain the Streets are generally narrow as ât uses to be in Ancient Towns the Houses hoâeveâ are fine the Walks pleasant and the Churches Magnificent The Cathedral dedicated to the Holy Virgin is very considerable its Quire the Church under ground and its 2 Steeples are the Admiration of all Strangers The Chapter hath 72 Canons 17 whereof are Dignitaries among whom are 6 Archdeacons viz. of Chartres Blois Dunois Vendome Dreux and Pincerais 4 Provosts namely those of Ingre Normandy Mesange and Anet In this Diocess are reckon'd 30 Abbies 257 Priories and more than 1300 Parishes the Churches of St. Julien and St. Agnan are very fine In a word 't is one of the biggest and richest Diocesses of France comprehending four other Cities the heads of so many Countries each of which might conveniently enough be made the Seat of a Bishop viz. Blois Chateaudun Vendome and Dreux if we believe De Valoâs In the City it self are 3 Abbies viz. those of St. Josaphat St. Pere en Vallée and St. Cheron besides many other Religious Houses Several considerable Manufactures are made at Chartres by reason of the waters of the River Eure which are esteemed very proper for that purpose This City lyes 14 leagues North-west of Orleance and 16 South-west of Paris Nogent le Roi is situated upon the Euâe 5 miles South of Dreux and 9 North of Chartres It 's call'd Novigentum Regis because as some say King Philip VI. dyed here or as others pretend because it was given by one Isaselle to K. Philip August Dreux Durocassae Carnutum and corruptively Drocae and Drocum lyes also upon the Eure 13 miles North of Chartres on whose Bishop it depends as likewise on the Governour of Orleanois tho' as to the Exchequer its Election resorts to the Generality of Paris It has the Title of a County and the precedency of Chartres in the Assembly of the General States it being one of the Ancientest Cities in the Kingdom Nay if we believe the suppositious Berose it was built Anno 410. or thereabouts after the Deluge by Drius IV. King of the Gauls and Founder of the Druides So much at least is sure that these Druides who were together the Priests the Teachers the Judges and the Physicians of that Nation kept here their Assemblies as esteeming this Place blessed and holy and the middle or Center of Gaul Here also it was that they gather'd the Misletoe from the Oaks with many Ceremonies after the solemn Sacrifice of two young white Bulls on the sixth day of the Moon the Priests cutting the Shrub with a Gold Sickle and the People receiving it on white Cloath For those crafty fellows made the Vulgar believe that the Misletoe was an heavenly Gift a Soveraign Remedy and preservative against all Diseases Robert Son of Lewis the Burly had the County of Dreux given him Anno 1137. when he marryed the Widdow of Rotrou Count of Perche He is the Stock of the Counts of that Name and the Dukes of Brittany descended from him His Grandson Peter of Dreux having married Guy Alix Heiress of that Sovereignty in 1250. About the end of the twelfth Century our K. Henry II. and his Son Richard burn'd this Town and Vendome because Count Robert of Meular their Kinsman and Vassal had made Homage of his Lands to the French K. Philip August This Town is likewise famous for the Battle which the Roman Catholicks gained over the Protestants Anno 1562. in which the Generals of both Parties the Duke of Monmorency Lord high Constable of France and the Admiral of Coligny were made Prisoners Gaillardon Galardo is scituted upon a little River which emptieth it self into that of Eure 3 leagues and a half from Chartres to the North-East It 's remarkable for the Birth of St. Hildeburg whose Life has been not many years since published by Don Luke d' Achery Espernon Sparno lyes 5 leagues North-East of Chartres and 5 Miles East of Nogent le Roy. It has a Priory under the Name of St. Thomas but is much more famous for having been erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1582. by the French King Henry III. on behalf of John Lewis of la Valette Nogaret whom he rais'd to the highest Dignities in that Kingdom and madâ him his chief Favourite Bonneval is scituated on the Frontiers of Blaisois in a fruitful Soil where the Loir receives the Mesuve 6 Leagues and a half South of Chartres There is a famous Abby of Benedictines of which one Arnauld an intimate Friend of St. Bernard was Abbot in the 13th Century Maintenon Mesteno 7 Miles North-East of Chartres and 3 South-East of Nogent le Roy upon the River Eure is now famous for giving the Title of Dutchess to the Widdow of the Poet Scarron Fransoise d' Aubigne the principal She-minister of State and Cabinet Counsellor of Lewis XIV There are some other Towns or considerable Burroughs in this County as Auneau Ouerville Voves Viabon c. In 1682. the Duke of Guise defeated the Germans near Auneau Of Vendomois VEndomois Vindocinensis or Vindusnensis Pagus hath Perche on the North Maine on the West Touraine on the South and Blaifois on the East Here is especially remarkable Vendome Vindocinum Castrum situated upon the Loir and the Capital of Vendomois with the Title of Dutchy and Peerdom erected by Francis I. in 1514. on behalf of Charles of Bourbon Father of Antony of Bourbon and this of Henry IV. During the first Race of the French Kings this Country made part of the Kingdom of Orleance and was since possest by the Counts of Anjou In 1342. Godfrey Martel one of them built here the Abby of the Holy Trinity after he had overcome William Count of Poictiers and Conquer'd from him the City of Saintes He fill'd it with Benedictine Monks and presented it with a pretended Tear of our Saviour said to have been wept on the Grave of Lazarus The Popes who never fail'd of gratifying the Monks at the Expences of the
Garrison but since the Latin Authors of the French History call the place Saium or Seium it seems not natural to fetch from so far and without Warrant too the original of that Name Brissac Braccum Saccum or Brisiacum in old French Brachesec or Brochesac lies on the River Aubance Albantia It 's a little Town with the Title of a Dutchy erected in favour of Charles of Cosse Mareschal of France It is situated in a very fine Country nigh to Pont de Ce seven Miles South-East of Anger 's There are at Brisac a very fine Castle a great Park and a large Pond of about a League in length Doue Theotuadum Castellum Doadum or Doeum lies seven Leagues South-East of Anger 's near the source of the Touay Toedum which discharges it self into the Loire after it has receiv'd three other Rivulets the Toeret the Argenton and the Dive It 's the Tradition of the Vulgar that this Town has been considerable in the Romans time and that they built there an Amphitheater which tho' it had but 1600 foot in Circuit was able to contain 15000 Spectators The remains of this Building are still made use of by the Inhabitants to act Comedies every Year there are twenty two steps cut for the most part in the Rock and the Walls are rais'd without Mortar Besides this Monument there are vestigies of an old way from Doue to Pont de Ce several subterraneous Vaults and a Wall of an extraordinary depth Nevertheless the Learned De Valois pretends that Doue was not a Roman work but one of the four Palaces or Country-Houses of the Kings of Aquitain and grounds his opinion on several passages of the old Historians of the French besides that the Frame of this Amphitheater was not adapted to Publick Shews The French King keeps a Garrison here Bauge Balgeium or Balgiacum had yet in Dâ Chesne's time a Presidial-Seat which has been since transfer'd to la Fleche However it has still an Electâon as well as Anger 's Saumur la Fleche Monstreuil-Bellay and Chateau-gontier which depend all six on the Generality of Tours Beauge has been built by Fulk Nerra Count of Anjou near the source of the Couesnon seven Leagues South-East of Anger 's In 1286. the French King Philip the Bold assign'd a Portion of 2000 Livres to Queen Margaret his Mother upon the Chastellenies of Bauge and Beaufort en Vallee which I observe to shew how scarce money was at that time Du Val speaks of a Victory obtain'd by the French over the English at Bauge in 1420 which should then be the very year of Charles the VI's Death when the English and Burgundians were most powerful and the affairs of the Dauphin Charles VII at the lowest ebb Beaufort en Vallee Bellum forte in Valle is a pretty Town and Castle as its name signifies lying betwixt the Rivers Couesnon and Authion five Leagues East of Anger 's It has the Title of a County and being of the antient Demesne of the French Crown has been oft separated from and reunited to it Now it belongs to the House of Beaumanoir-Lavardin Monsoreau Mons Sorelli near the Confluence of the Vienne and Loire and the borders of Touraine thirteen Leagues East South-East of Anger 's has the Title of a County and is noted for a Battel fought there against the Normans in 879. Brese lies three Leagues Westwards upon the Loire has the Tiâle of a Marquisate and a Castle fortify'd with deep Motes and subterraneous Vaults There are a fine Garden and a Wood of Cypresses belonging to it Monte-jan Mons Johannis upon the River Loire five Leagues South-West of Anger 's is noted for having given name under the Reign of Francis I. to a Vain-glorious Marshal of France who to mimick Kings sent and receiv'd Embassadors and was much laughed at the Courts of France and Spain Ingrande on the same River a League farther to the West is a good Trading Town Font-evraud Fons Everardi a famous Abby of Nuns Chief of an Order of that Name founded by Robert of Arbrissel in 1100 lies on the borders of Poictou fourteen Leagues South-East of Anger 's It 's said that the Sermons of Arbrissel drawing great number of People after him he built them Cells or Cabins in the Forest of Fontevraud and afterwards shut up the Women in a separate place Whether it was to make a Serrail or a Cloister I know not but 't is reported of this H. Man that he lay in Bed with them to mortifie the flesh However it be this Monastery has been successively governed by fourteen Princesses Craon Credo is a little Town seated on the Oudon towards the Frontiers of Maine and Bretaign twelve Leagues North-West of Anger 's It hath given Name to the Illustrious Family of the Barons of Craon known since the XIV Century This Barony fell Annâ 1586 to the House of la Trimouille by the Marriage of Guy the VI. Lord of la Trimouille with Mary of Sulli only Daughter and Heiress of Louis of Sulli and Isabella of Craon This Town suffer'd much during the Civil Wars Anno 1562. Chateau Gontier Castellum Guntherii is on the River Mayenne ten Leagues North of Anger 's It was rais'd from a Country-House to a Castle and a Town by Fulk 111th Count of Anjou who gave it the name of his Tenant there The other Towns or Burroughs of any consideration in this Province are Cande Condate le Lyon d' Anger 's Segre Secretum Poiiancey Chateauneuf Durestail c. Of Touraine TOVRAINE or Turonus Ager is situated between Blaisois Vendomois Maine Anjou Poictou and Berri it hath the Title of a Dutchy is twenty four Leagues in its greatest length and as much in breadth Because of its fertility in all things especially in Fruit many term it the Garden of France The chief Rivers which water it are the Loire the Indre the Cher the Indroise the Vienne c. whose course may be seen in the general description of this Government The Inhabitants of Touraine called in French Tourangeaux and in Latin Turones and Turoni were already powerful in Caesar's time since their Cotta for the relief of Alesia besieged by that General amounted to six thousand Men. In the fourth Century when Gaul was divided by the Romans into seventeen Provinces Tours became the Capital of the third Lyonnoise and consequently a Metropolitan tho' the City it self and a great part of its dependencies lying on the South of the Loire seem more properly to belong to Aquitain And therefore when Charlemaigne divided his Dominions between his Sons 't is expresly noted that he gave all Aquitain and Gascony excepting Touraine to his beloved Son Louis The City and Arch-Bishoprick of Tours Turonum or rather Caesarodunum Turonum is situated upon the Loire and much frequented by Merchants because of the conveniency of that great River and the Cher but especially because of their Brocards and other Silk Manufactures The Metropolitan Church of St. Gratian is worth
the curiosity of Strangers This Saint was the first Bishop of it at the end of the second Century he had for his successors many famous Prelates particularly St. Lidoire St. Martin St. Grâgory of Tours Since I have made mention of St. Martin I cannot forbear this History related by Du Chesne King Clovis soon after his Conversion to Christianity made an Offering of his own Horse to the Tomb of this Saint sending immediately an hundred pieces of Gold to redeem it but when he would mount it the Horse could not go until he had sent five-fold the Mony It seem'd says my superstitious Author as tho' its feet had been fastened to the Ground And so I believe they were or something very like it for I never read in the H. Scripture that God wrought Miracles only on purpose to enrich his Prophets or Apostles at the expences of Kings or People The French Papists have still an extraordinary veneration for this H. Man It were to be wish'd they would imitate his Christian moderation for this good Bishop would never communicate with Idacius and Ithacius who had procur'd the death of the Heresiarch Priscillian The Diocess of Tours is very large being distributed under three Arch-Deacons one of Tours another beyond the Loire and the third beyond the Vienne comprehending twenty great Abbies above an hundred Monasteries twenty Collegiate Churches fill'd up with Prebendaries four hundred Parochial Churches whereof sixteen are within the City Besides the famous Abby of Marmoutier and the fine Church of St. Ma tin on which six Abbotships depend viz. Beauieu Cormeri Villeloin Pruilly Noyers and Chinon But the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan is far much larger for the Bishops of Anger 's and le Mans and the nine Prelates of Brittany are his Suffragans Thâre is a Gate called corruptively la porte Fourgon whose right name is la porte du Roi Hugon King Hugon's Gate Some derive from thence the Nick-Name of Hugonots given to the French Protestants because they us'd to assemble at Night in subterraneous Vaults near the Gates of this City to avoid the rage of their Persecutors and therefore were called Hugonoti Hugonots as tho' they had been Disciples of King Hugon or Huguet This Hugon seems to have been an antient Count of Touraine who repair'd this Gate but it is now look'd upon by the superstitious Inhabitants as a kind of Hobgoblin that goes about the City Walls and beats the Night-Walkers he meets with Others feign a more illustrious original of this name pretending that it was imposed on the French Protestants when the League was most powerful And that as the House of Guise gave pâivately out to have a better Title to the Crown than the Kings that then were as being descended from Charlemaign so the Leaguers nick-nam d the abettors of the Reformation Hugonots as favourers of the Posterity of Hugh Capet the head of the third Race of the Fr nch Kings However it be the Protestant Religion made at first great Progresses in this City and for this reason it was that it stood firm by the French Kings Henry III. and Henry IV. So that when the Parliament of Paris declar'd for the League the Loyalists that could make their escape râtir d to Tours and erected there another Court of Justice which cashier'd all the Edicts of the Parliament of Paris tending to promâte the Rebellion Near St. Martin the Fair is still shewn the Plain wheâe Charles Martel Duke or Generalissimus of the French defeated the Saracens in 726 kiâling 375000 of their Men with their King Abderame tho' he lost but 1500. But some mâderate and very accurate Authors pretend that there is a mistake or overplus of 300000 in that Calculation Tours has a Bayliwick and Presidial-Seat an Election and a Generality to which those of Amboise Chinon and Loches all those of le Mayne and Anjou and some of Poictou do resort Here was formerly Mony coyn'd that went throughout all the Kingdom whence come still the names of Deniers Sous and Livres Tournois The form of Tours is somewhat oval the streets being long and clean and the Houses cover'd with Slates as well as the Walls of the City Near a Village called Columbiers two Leagues East of Tours is a subterraneous Vault called la Cave Gouttiere or the dropping Cave where the drops of Water freeze and petrifie as they fall along the Walls The cold is here extraordinary in Summer tho' this seems not to be the sole cause of it There is also the House and Castle of Plessis worthy to be seen for the fine Orchards and Gardens belonging to it But as to the Castle of Tours it is old and ruin'd Tours lies twenty five Leagues West of Anger 's and 46 South-East of Paris Amboise or Ambacia situated on the confluence of the Loire and Amasse having a Royal Castle built by Charles the Eighth to distinguish the place of his Birth which was also that of his Death This Town is pretty antient for Gregory of Tours says That Clovis and Alaric had an Interview in the Island nigh Amboise which Island is now within the Town The Normans afterwards ruined it but it was soon repair'd by Fulk III. Count of Anjou and is now a very fine Town tho' not very big The Healthfulness of the Air has oft drawn the French Kings hither and at such a time it was that some French Protestants designing to rid themselves of the Guisards who kept K. Francis II. in a manner Prisoner were discovered in their Attempt and paid for it with their Lives in 1560 Amboise belong'd a long time to the Counts of Anjou as to its Founders or Repairers then it had particular Lords Charles VâI seiz'd it from Lewis Viscount of Thouars c. because he took part with the English Lewis XI Instituted here the Order of St. Michael August 1. 1469. Amboise lies 5 Leagues West of Turs and 9 East of Orleance It seems to owe its first Original to a Bridge of Boats which the Romans made here The Town of Loches Luccae or Lociae is scituated upon the River Indre Nine Leagues South-East of Tours Eustochius fifth Bishop of Tours founded here a Monastery whereof he constituted one Vrsus the first Abbot under the Reign of Alaric King of the Goths Lâches was already a strong Place under the first Race of the Kings of France but Carloman and Pepin Brothers and Generals of the French took and rais'd it in 742. It was since repair'd and fortified with a Castle built on the top of an unaccessible Rock defended with Towers and Bulwarks and being 12000 Steps in Circuit so that it could not be taken by the English This Country was the Patrimony of the first Counts of Anjou there they kept their Prisoners of State But Charles the VII did make his ordinary Residence in it Louis the XI did add divers Appartments to the Castle particularly a dark Dungeon where he kept Cardinal de Balue Prisoner
Kingdom Soulogne or Sologne Secalaunia or Segalonia is another small Country on the South of Blaisois between the Loire and the Cher. Some derive its Latin name Secalaunia from the abundance of Ry Secale that grows in the Country but de Valois takes it for a proper name just such another as the Segalauni of Dauphine the Inhabitants of Valence However it be Sologne depends for the Spiritual on the Bishop of Chartres and is the fourth in number among his six Archdeaconships and as for the Temporal it resorts to the Bayliwick of Blois as well as Dunois It abounds with Fruits and Corn and especially with Millet The City of Blois Blesum Blesae or Castrum Blesense is situated upon the Loire with the Title of County Bailiwick and Chamber of Accounts It is almost equally distant from Orleans and Tours being near thirteen Leagues from the former to the East and twelve from the latter to the West This Town has some Antiquity for tho' Caesar does not mention it and that there be no great reason to take it for the Corbilo of Strabo yet it appears by Gregory of Tours that the Inhabitants were already in some consideration in the V. VI. Centuries since in conjunction with the Orleanois they invaded the Dun is and Anno 584 kept Prisoner Eberulf in the Church of St. Martin at Tours The sight of Blois is very pleasant on the steep of a Hill on the North-side of the Loire the River running through the Town and Suburb Vienne that are joyn'd by a Stone-Bridge whereon is a Pyramid erected in 1598. With an Inscription to shew that Henry IV. rebuil'd it There is a sumptuous Castle begun by the Kings Lewis XII and Francis I. beautified by Queen Katharine of Medicis by the French King Henry IV. and by several Dukes of Orleans As also a curious Garden adorn'd with Water-spouts and antick Statues Henry III. call'd here twice the States of his Kingdom in 1577 and 1588 and during the last of these Assemblies caus'd Henry Duke of Guise and the Cardinal Francis his Brother to be murther'd The excellency of the Air and fertility of the Ground have given to Blois the Sir-name of The City of Kings or perhaps it was because in this Country they brought up the Children of the Fr. Kings and that some of the Kings themselves have resided there To which may be added That the first Counts of Blois were the Fore-fathers of Hugh Capet from whom the present Kings are lineally descended These Counts were as Sovereign as are now the Electors and other Princes of Germany for they coyn'd Mony with an Hebraick Letter a Flower de luce and their own Name on one side and on the backside a cross with a B. and these two words Castro Blesis Besides what has been alledged for the antiquity of Blois there are remains of an Aqueduc wherein three Men can ride on Horseback abreast and 't is the common Tradition of the Inhabitants that at a Village call'd Orchese almost 5 Miles West of the Town Julius Caesar kept his Magazines which they endeavour to confirm by the Ruins of some great Buildings Arches strong and thick Walls and the like Antiquities but have no other ground that I know of As to new VVorks besides the Castle and Gardens there is a Tennis Court esteemed the biggest in France being 57 Foot in length and 20 in breadth Between Blois and Orchese not far from that Village was discovered about a hundred Years since a Mine of Terra Sigillata or seal'd Earth which is pretended to be as good as that of Lemnos The Pasture Ground in the Valley of Loire and the Exhalations that come out of the Vaults of St. Gervais are so wholesome that the Milk of the Cattle that feeds thereabouts is excellent especially the Cream that is esteemed one of the Dainties of the Country The Boon-Christian-Pears and Perdigron Plums are also rare Fruits and amongst Handy-works the VVatches of Blois have got a Name through the whole Kingdom but that which is most taking with Strangers is the Purity of the French Tongue that is spoken here with a good Accent as well by Country Men as by Gentlemen and with all the charming Humour and singular Honesty of the Inhabitants I had almost forgotten that Peter l'Hermite the first Preacher of the Crusado's was a Native of Blois Tho' the Royal House and Park of Chambort or Chambourg be not antient Monuments yet they deserve a particular description The House lies almost seven Miles West of Blois on the South side of the Loire in the midst of the Park and of a pleasant Forest It was begun by King Francis I. at his coming out of the Prison at the same time that he built Madrid-Castle near Paris but tho' he employ'd eighteen hundred Workmen at the building of Chambort during twelve years yet it was not perfectly finished in his life time A small Brook abounding with Fish surrounds the Palace which is adorn'd with many little Towers and Chimneys that give a very fine prospect from far off and the Forest is so pierced through that it hinders not the view of the adjacent Meadows nor even of the Town of Blois from the top of the Towers The most remarkable thing is a Winding Stair-Case of 274 Steps so large that several persons can go abreast and so contriv'd that those who go up on one side and come down on the other cannot see each other tho' they can talk together Add to this that one may throw a Ball perpendicularly through the Newel from the top of the Stairs to the bottom At the end of the Queens Garden which takes up five hundred acres of Land towards the Forest of Blois is a Lane of six thousand great Elms a Mile in length and six Fathoms in breadth I pass over the other Curiosities to observe that the Park is encompass'd with a square-Wall lying as a Parallelogramm inclin'd along the Loire and cut through the River Cousson being three Italian Miles East and West two Miles North and South-West and one and two thirds North and South-East There are 6 other Towns of some consideration in the little extent of Blaisois Mer or Menars the Town and the Castle Suevre-cour-sur Loire and Die these two lie over against Chambort the former on the North the latter on the South-side of the Loire Onzain mid-way between Amboise and Blois Landes on the borders of Vendomois and Contres on the Frontiers of Soulogne Chateau-Dun Castellodunum is the Capital City of the little Country of Dunois 11 Leagues North of Blois It has its Name from the Hill on which it 's seated on the East-side of the Loir Dun in old Gaulish signifying a Hill but I know not where Duchesne has found that it was antiently call'd Rubeclara for Vrbs Clara because it may be seen from far off There is a Castle strong by its Scituation and Works but the Suburbs are larger and better built than the
Town which has been ruined by the Wars It seems to have been considerable in the sixth Century since Sigebert first King of Austrasia erected it into a Bishopprick but Papole Bishop of Chartres form'd such a Powerful Opposition to it in the fourth Council of Paris in 573 that Promotus the new Prelate was forc'd to stand off his Right and to lead a private Life Another Maâk of the former Greatness of this Town are its Arms three Half Moons with these Words Extincta revivisco besides many Ruins There is an antient Abby of Cisternians founded by Charlemaign and several Collegiate and Parochial Churches Chateaudun has an Election and Royal Seat of Justice on which depend the Chastellenies of Montigny le Guanleon Courtalin Monlitard Lesclers and Rubetan according to du Chesne but I find none of them in the most accurate Maps The other Towns of Dunois are Alluye Bonneval Cloye Moree Freteval all upon the Loire Oucques Marchenoir Pathay Bagnolet on the East Dangeau Brou-St Romain Anthen la Bazoche-Gouet on the West side of that River Romorantin or Remorentin Rivus Morentini a Town and a Castle seated on the River Saudre Salera eight Leagues South-West of Blois is the Capital of Sologne has the Title of a County and is the Seat of the Election for that little Country In 1597. the Monks who suspected Henry IV. all his life for having been once a Protestant taught a young Maid called Martha Brossier to counterfeit one that is possest of the Devil and under that pretence spread many things to the King's disadvantage The Cheat succeeded in many places of the Diocess of Orleans whither they carry'd her but making bold to bring her to Paris the Parliament took notice of it and the pretended Devil was confin'd to her own Country In 1560. Francis the XI published here an Edict against the Protestants under the Name of Hereticks Du Chesne derives the Name of Romorentin from Roma Minor and pretends it to be a Work of the Romans because of some old Ruins The learned Mr. Pajon Minister of Orleans who so ingeniously defended the Reformation in his Answer to the Prejugez legitimes of that famous Jansenist Mr. Nicole was a Native of Romârantin Millansay a Burrough and a Castle call'd by Duchesne Militia Caesaris lies 2 Leagues Northwards The other places of Sologne are la Ferte-Aurain on the Beuvron Chatillon and la Ferte-Imbaut on the Saudre St. Aignan and Menetou on the Cher and Nansay on the Raire Of Proper Orleannois ORleannois properly so call'd is situated between Berri Gatinois the Country of Chartres and Blaisois Orleans is the antient City of Genabum or Cenabum mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptolomy and other antient Geographers It 's true that the Description he makes of it may in some manner be applied to Gien Beaugency and Gergeau because of the Proximity of those places to Orleans and their Scituation on the Loire But he who shall consider that the Chartrains Carnutes had two considerable Cities in their Country viz. Autricum and Genabum whereof the first is incontestably Chartres shall not doubt but Genabum is Orleans This may be prov'd First From a continued Tradition of the antient Historians of the French who all agree in taking Genabum for Orleans And secondly From that there never was any other Town so considerable as Orleans under the Jurisdiction of the Chartrains In this Town then it was that Cesar took his Winter Quarters and made it one of his chief Magazines for his Army In 450. that barbarous Prince Attila King of the Huns so deservedly call'd the Scourge of God as well as Lewis XIV laid Siege to it and the Inhabitants afraid of his Threatnings and Cruelties would have surrendred themselves had they not been âncouraged by St. Aignau their Bishop with âhe hope of an unexpected Succours And so ãâã really fell out for Thierry or Theodoric King âf the Goths fearing lest Orleans being taken âttila should pass the River Loire and enter ânto his Dominions came to the Relief of the Besieged and charg'd the Huns in the Rear so âffectually that he forc'd them to raise the âiege and to withdraw into the Plains of Sologne Secalaunicis Campis and not Cataâaunicis for Chalons in Burgundy lies sixty âeagues from thence where Aetius the Roman âeneral assisted with the Goths and Burgundiâus under Thierry and the Francs under Meâveus lever'd them Battle defeated Attila ând kill'd 180000 of his men Childeric âourth King of the French and Successor to Meroveus having defeated Gillon or Aegidius âhe last General the Romans had in Gaule took Anger 's Orleans and whatsoever remain'd in âheir Possession on this side the Loire But Clovis his Son pushed his Conquests so far into Aquitain by the defeat of Alaric King of the Goths that after his death Orleans became the Head and Title of a new Kingdom the Portion âf his second Son Clodomir This Prince âeigned but thirteen years having been kill'd ân his Pursuit of the Burgundians in 524. In âim began and ended the Kingdom of Orleans âor Clotarius his Brother who had spoused his Widow made away his Issue And tho' after âotarius's death France was again divided ââto four parts yet Orleans was no more the âead of a Kingdom for Gontran to whom it fell to share chose Chalons for the Seat of hiâ Empire and most of his Estates having formerly belong'd to the Burgundians he took hiâ Title from thence And thence undoubtely iâ comes that Fredegarius reckons Orleans iâ Burgundy During the weakness of Charlemaign's Successors this Town with several other Estate became the Property of Hugh the Great Dukâ of France and Burgundy Count of Paris c Father to Hugh Capet the Head of the thirâ Race of the French Kings This was apparently the cause that Robert Son and Henrâ Grandson to Capet made oft their residence iâ Orleans and that their Successors did neveâ separate it from the Crown till Philip of Valoiâ gave it in Portion to Philip his fifth Son deaâ without Issue in 1375. Lewis second Son tâ Charles the V. got it afterwards and waâ Grandfather to Lewis the XII who ascendeâ the Throne after Charles VIII since that it haâ been several times the Portion of the youngesâ Sons of those Kings as 't is now enjoy'd bâ Philip of France Lewis the XIV's Brother As to the Ecclesiastical State St. Altin iâ reckoned the first Bishop of Orleans and in thâ sixth Century five National Councils were kepâ here in less than forty years viz. in 511 533 538 541 and 549. for settling the Ecclesiastical Discipline the Election Rights and Limitâ of the Metropolitans The Prelates of thiâ Church on the day of their inthronizatioâ have the Priviledge of delivering a Prisoneâ and of being carry'd to the Cathedral on thâ Shoulders of the five ancientest Barons oâ their Diocess viz. those of Yevre-le Chastel Sulli Cheray Acheres and Rougemont Gregory of Tours relates that when King Gontran made his solemn Entrance
appears by the Roman Medals that have been found here It has a Bridge on the Loire being an important passage of that River and therefore fortify'd with a Castle lying on a Hill with part of the Town surrounded with old Walls La Charite Caritas six Leagues North-West of Nevers is also situated on the Loire on the same side of this City and Decize that is looking towards the North-East with two Bridges on that River one of Stone and the other of Wood. It has a Hall or cover'd Market-place of an extraordinary length several Churches and one of the chief Priories of the Abby of Cluny call'd St Marie de la Charite This Monastery gave name and rise to the Town which depends for the Spiritual on the Bishop of Auxerre and resorts for the Temporal to the Bailiwick of Nevers and the Election of Gien It suffer'd much during the Wars with the English and the Civil Wars for Religion but especially in 1569 when it was taken and plunder'd by the German Auxiliary Forces of William Duke of Deux-ponts Pougues is but a Village near the Loire three Miles North of Nevers and nine South of La Charite on the same side of that River but is extreamly famous for its Mineral Waters said to be a specifick remedy against Hydropisie They consist in two Foântains that are but at a Foot distance from one another and yet there is observ'd some difference in the taste The Inhabitants use them for common drink and testifie that they are more strengthning than ordinary Spring-water St. Pierre le Moutier Monasterium St. Petri lies in the Country between the Allier and Loire five Leagues North of Nevers It has been divided from the Jurisdiction of Nevers and made a Bailiwick Presidial and Provostship to which the Towns of Donzi Szincoins Cusset and Bourg-St Ettienne are resorting Donzi Donziacum four Leagues North North-East of la Charite lies upon the little River Nozaim which discharges it self into the Loire at Cosne It has the Title of a Dutchy and is the head of a small Country call'd le Donziois Pagus Donziacensis which has besides Antraim Dreve c. Clamecy Climiciacum or Clamiceium lies almost six Leagues East of Donzi upon the River Yonne that receives here three other Rivulets which begin to render it navigable Clamecy is the Seat of an Election under the Generality of Orleans to which resort Dornecy or Dommecy Domitiacum Cunfy Metz le Comte Tannay Anant Champlemy and Varzy After the Expulsion of the Christians out of the H. Land Rainold Bishop of Bethlehem follow'd into France Gui Count of Nevers in 1223. who gave him the Government of an Hospital here and that he might still keep a shadow of his former Dignity this Hospital was erected into a Bishoprick and call'd Bethlehem but no Territory annex'd to it However these Titular Prelates have had Successors hitherto All the Northern part of Nivernois from La Charite to this Town is of the Diocess of Auxerre Vezelay Viceliacum upon the River Cure Chora five Leagues East of Clamecy has an Election and an antient Abby of Benedictins founded by Gerard Count of Nevers under the French King and Emperor Charles the Bald. It 's now a Collegiate Church of Prebendaries under the Title of St. Mary Magdalene resorting to the Bishoprick of Autun as does all the Valley of Yonne and the Country of Moruan In 1145. Pope Eugenius III. celebrated a Council here in presence of the Fr. K. Lewis VII Morvant or rather Moruan Moruinus Pagus reaches from thence to the Source of the Yonne or very near it It 's a wild Wooddy and Mountanous Country into which Heptadius a holy Priest fled to avoid his being made Bishop of Auxerre It has its name from a Village that is no more extant viz. Moruin mention'd by the antient Historians of the French However there are yet other places of some Note as Champagne Campaniacum Cussi Cussiacum Cervon Cervedo L' Orme Corbigny S. Leonard Corbiniacum Auroux Chasteau-Chinon Castrum Caninum This last is a Lordship surrounded with pleasant Forests and seems to have gotten that name from the Grey-hounds or Hunting-Dogs which the Counts of Nevers kept here The chief Trade of the Country consists in Wood that is carry'd on the Yonne and the Seine down to Paris Arquien and Langeron are two Marquisates on the two extremities of Nivernois Arquien on the North-East near the River Cure and Langeron on the South-West near the Allier La Ferté Chauderon two Leagues South-East of Langeron has the Title of a Barony whose Lord entitles himself Marshal and Seneschal of Nivernois and pretends to the right of Coinâng Mony At La Roche-Milet another Barony 15 Leagues Eastwards are considerable Fairs Mentenoison which gives name to a Valley has â strong Castle built on a Mountain almost in âhe middle of this Dutchy The other places âre Luzy Cercy-la Tour Molins-Engilbert Anlezy âhatillon-en-Bazois S. Sauge Premery Champ-Allemand c. CHAP. XI Of Orleanois on the South of the Loire Of Berry BERRY has Sologne on the North from which it is separated by the Fuzou on the East the Loire and the Allier divide it from Puisaie Nivernois and Bourbonnois It consines La-Marche on the South and Poictou and Touraine on the West It 's modern name has still some affinity with the Latin Bituriges by which the Roman Historians call the Berruyers the Inhabitants of this Country who were once Masters of all Celtick Gaul It was so at least in the time of Tarquin the antient King of Rome For Ambigat King of the Celtes either to extend his Dominions or to discharge his Realm of the multitude of People it was crowded with resolv'd to make two Plantations under the Conduct of two Sons of his Segovese and Bellovese The former lead his Colony through the Hercynian now the Black Forrest into Germany where they settled themselves partly in Bohemia partly on the Danube and partly in Friesland and Westphaly These last were the Ancestors of the Franks or French who a thousand years after pass'd the Rhine under Pharamond and Clodion and began to conquer the Gauls their antient habitation As to Bellovese he took his Way through Dauphine Savoy and the Alps followed by vast numbers of Berruyers Auvergnats Senonois Autunois Chartrains Manseaux c. who conquer'd the Northern Part of Italy and gave it the name of Cisalpine Gaul It 's the same that was since call'd Lombardy and comprehends Piedmont the Dutchy of Milan the States of Genoa Mantua and part of the Dominions of Venice and of Tuscany I know not whether these Colonies weak'ning the Berruyers caus'd the ruine of their Empire but in Caesar's time they were no longer their own Masters being under the protection or rather dependance of the Autunois However they were still so powerful as to have above twenty good Towns in their Country which they all burnt except the Capital to famish the Roman Army tho' this hinder'd not their being subdu'd
by this great General In the Division of Augustus Berry was made a part of Aquitain and continu'd so under the French During the weakness of Charlemaigne's Successors the Governors of this Province made themselves Sovereigns and had the Title of Counts of Bourges till Harpin undertaking a Journey into the Holy Land sold his Estate to the French King Philip I. for sixty thousand golden Pence This Lord turning a Monk at his return this County was united to the Crown till the year 1360 that the French King John erected it into a Dutchy and Peerdom for his youngest Son John who dying without Male Issue Berry return'd to the Crown King Charles VI. gave it in portion to his fifth Son Charles since the VII of that name King of France and because during the Wars with the English this Province stood firm to his Int'rest his Enemies call'd him contemptuously King of Bourges Since that time Berry has often been the portion of youngest Sons Daughters and Queen Dowagers of France This Province is about 28 Leagues North and South and as many East and West being divided into two Parts almost equal by the Cher and water'd by a vast number of other Rivers which make this Country very pleasant and fertile in all the necessary Conveniencies of Life It especially abounds in Corn and the Pasture-Ground is so excellent that the Wooll and Cloth of Berry out-do all the others in France The Name of Berry is derived from a Latin word us'd in the decay of that Tongue Biturium More antient Authors call the Berruyers Bituriges Cubi to distinguish them from the Inhabitants of Bourdeaux Bituriges Vivisci who seem to be a Colony of the former Bourges Avaricum Biturigum and in latter Ages Biturigae Bituricae Betoricae lies 19 Leagues South South-East of Orleans upon the River Eure or Yeure Avara or Avera whence the Latin Name of this City Avaricum seems to come It 's seated in a Soil fertile in Fruits and Wine that is not so delicate but more healthful than that of Orleans The River Eure divides it self into three Branches one of which serves to cleanse the Town and withal to Dyers Tanners and the like the other refreshes the Ditches that surround the Walls and the third runs along the Suburb of St. Peter These three Branches being joined and the Eure encreased with the Waters of the Oron Vtrio the Aurette Avara Minor and the Moulon Molo near the Monastery of St. Sulpice this River begins to be Navigable The Situation of Bourges is not only convenient but also very strong for besides these Rivers and Ditches it is defended by broad and deep Marshes surrounded with good Walls fortified with eighty Towers so that three Camps would needs be required to besiege it on all sides as one at Bourbon's Gate the other at Oron's Gate and the other at the Gate of St. Privatus Cesaer observes that he could not shut it up with Trenches and laid siege to it only on that side that was between the River and the Marsh Nevertheless he took it partly by Storm and partly by Stratagem having raised two high Towers whence his Soldiers leaped on the Wall which so frighted the Garison and Inhabitants that they retir'd to the great Market and thence endeavoured to make their escape thorough the Gates but the Romans having master'd them spar'd neither Sex nor Age they were so incens'd at the Murther of their Fellow Soldiers in Gien This was the Cause that of 40000 People that were in this City 800 hardly could save their Lives by retiring into the Army of Vercingentorix General of the Gauls In the V. Century Bourges was taken from the Romans by the Visigots and from them by Clovis and made part of the Kingdom of Orleans under Clodomir and of that of Burgundy under Gontran his Nephews Desiderius or Didier General of Chilperic the first King of Paris or France took it from the last in 583 and burnt it almost intirely Charlemaign repair'd it and Phillip August fortified and adorn'd it with a Castle call'd the Great Tower which was almost quite ruined in 1651. It was cut Diamond wise on the outside and rais'd so high that from the top the Country might be viewed four Leagues round about There has been seen a long time a Wood or Iron-Cage where the jealous King Charles the VIII kept Lewis of Orleans Prisoner who nevertheless succeeded him In 1412 the Duke of Burgundy brought the French King Charles the VI. before Bourges whither the Duke of Orleans and his Confederates had retir'd and laid siege to it with an Army of 100000 Men but in vain for at last both Parties were glad to accept of the Mediation of the Duke of Guyenn then Dauphin of France In 1562 The Count of Montgommery Commander of the Protestants under the Prince of Conde seiz'd on this Town May 27 but left Governour therein one Yvoy a Man of no great Courage and Trust who surrendered it the same Year to the Duke of Guise and therefore it remained in the Power of the Leaguers till 1594 that it was reduced by the French King Henry the IV. Notwithstanding these various Changes Bourges is still a considerable City being of an Oval Figure with seven Gates and as many Suburbs Its Walls seem to be a Roman Work being still almost intire and so strongly built that it requires a great deal of Labour to pluck some few Stones out of them It has seventeen Parochial and seven Collegiate Churches three Abbies a College of Jesuites and a vast number of Monasteries besides the Cathedral of St. Stephen said to be buiât in 254 and the St. Chappel founded by John Duke of Berry Brother to the French King Charles the V. and therefore depending immediately on the See of Rome That Duke was buried there in 1417 and there is still his Crown with several Vessels of Gold and Silver curiously wrought There are likewise shewn the pretended Bones of a certain Giant call'd Briat said to have been 15 Cubits high The Romans had here a Pallace which K. Pepin repair'd and called there an Assembly of his Barons in 767 but I know not whether it be the same which the Dukes of Berry made afterward use of and is now the Seat of the Presidial Besides the Bailiwick Bourges has a Generality to which the Elections of Chateau-Roux and la Chastre in Berry and St. Amand in Bourbonnois are resorting as also a Chamber of Acompts for all the lands depending on this Dutchy erected by the said Duke in 1379. It s University is famous for the Civil and Canon Law the best Lawyers in France having taught here in the last Age and the beginning of this such as Alciat Baroâ Duarenus Baldwin Conti Hortomun Cujus c. It was founded by the French King Lewis the IX re-establisht by Charles Duke of Berry Brother to Lewis the XI and endow'd with many Priviledges by Pope Paul II. in 1464. But now I am
Chastillon Sur Indre-Igorandis Aigurande Montfaucon Monsfalconis towards Nivernois has one of the finest Ponds in the Country Nancey Pelluau Charrox Corrocium have the Title of Counties Ligneres Lineriae and St. Severe are Buronies Valansay Vatan Vastinum Culant Cullencum are considerable Lârdships La Cheze-al-Benoit is an Abby the chief of St. Benet's Order Of Poictou THis Province is the biggest of those that are comprehended in the Government Orleanois for it reaches 48 Leagues East and West from Port de Piles in Tourain to the Isle of Nermoutier and 20 North and South from Loudun to Aunay or 26 from Champigni on the Vienne to Marsillai on the Charante and the Borders of Angoumois It 's included betwixt Britany Anjou and Tourain on the North. Berri and La Marche on the East Angoumois Saintonge and Aunis on the South and the Sea on the West It 's divided into upper and lower the latter extending along the Ocean from Fontenay le Comte to Mortaigne and the former taking up the rest of the Province The whole Country is fruitful in Corn Wine and Pasture-Grounds and feeds great numbers of Sheep and Herds of Cattle besides that there is good Fishing on the Sea-Coast and a vast quantity of Game in the Forrests and Warrens The Inhabitants of POICTOV are mentioned by Cesar Strabo Ptol my and other antient Geographers under the Name of Poictones But there is little appearance they should have gotten that Name from a Scythian Nation call'd properly Agathyrses and sirnam'd Picti because they used to Paint their Hair and Faces to make themselves the more terrible to their Enemies That these Pictes having possest themselves of the Northern Parts of great Britain should have Shipp'd over a Colony that made a Descent on the Coasts of POICTOV Conquered the Country and gave their Sirname to it All this is grounded upon a bare Resemblance of Words without any Foundation on History for theses Pictes began to appear in the Year 87. of our Lord under the Empire a Domitian and we have quoted Cesar who call'd the Inhabitants of POICTOV Pictones an hundred Years before So that this must needs be a Gaulish Name whose original is unknown that Tongue being almost altogether lost The swiftness of Cesars Conquests in the Gauls will not surprise those who shall consider the Constitution of that Country separated into a vast number of petty States independing from one another That Great Captain us'd the methods that have ever prov'd so successful to Conquerors to sow dissension among their Enemies make Alliances with some profer Neutrality to others and use the Forces of the vanquished to subdue the unconquered Thus Cesar having submitted the Inhabitants of the Country of POICTOV and Saintonge imbark'd his Troops in their Vessels to Land Men into the Country of Vennes and by those means subdued the most potent Nation that liv'd on the Sea-Coast of Gaul Neither could the League which Vercingentorix a young Gentleman of Auvergne endeavoured to make among several Nations of the Celtick Gaul restore their broken Power The Quota of the Pictones came then to 8000 Men which shews how considerable they were in those days Notwithstanding Alesia whose relief was intended by this League was taken and destroyed by the Romans the Pictones with all their Confederates being likewise subdu'd Ever since the Pictones remained under the Romans and not long after the Emperour Claudius going over into England was accompanied with the Flower of their Nobility whom at his Return he allow'd to rebuild their Capital City in Recompence of their good Services But in 410 the Vandals plundered and destroyed it in part and two Years after it fell with all POICTOV Guienn and Languedoc in the Power of the Wisigoths who maintained themselves in the Possesion of all those Provinces 84 Years under six Kings that is till 509 that Clovis King of the French won the Battel of Civaux near Poictiers kill'd Alaric King of the Wisigoths and drove them out of POICTOV and a great part of Guienn and Languedoc Under the French King and Emperour Charles the Bald this Province began to have Counts of its own who in process of Time beeame Dukes of Guienn William the X. the last of them Married Alienor his only Daughter and Heires to the French King Lewis the VII but the crafty Policy of the Popes procuring a Divorce betwixt them this rich Princess spous'd Henri Plantagenet afterwards King of England which was the Source of continual Wars betwixt the two Kingdoms during two or three Centuries Pictones is the true Latin Name of the Inhabitants that has been since corrupted into Pictavi Pictavenses and Pictavini whence comes the French Poitevins and likewise the Name of Petaux given to some part of the French Foot by Froissard and Thibaud de Maroiles as most probably the Name of Bidaux in the same Historians signifies the Foot-Soldiers levied in the Province of Berry Bituriges As there are great Numbers of Gentry in this Province and the Inhabitants of Towns are well bred and live at Ease the Reformation made great progresses in POICTOV and was oft therefore the Seat of War in the last Age. But nothing can be compar'd to the Cruelties which the Intendant of Marillac and his Officers exercised upon the Protestants of this Province in the Years 1680. and 1681 by Lewis the XIV's Order The waste of their Goods and the plunder of their Houses were tolerable Vexations in comparison of the Racks and Tortures which they put those poor Men upon without any other Cause than that they were pretended Hereticks The Reader may consult two Books Erat des Reformez en France Par. 1. Chap. 8 to 14. but especially Pag. 141 142. and Les derniers efforts de l'innocence affligee Pag. 82 -123 Besides the general Division of POICTOV into Upper and Lower 't is subdivided into ten smaller Countries as le Chastelleraudois le Loudunois le Miâaâelois le Toâârcois la Gastine Arbauge le Lussonois ãâã ââoââois les Mauges and le Pais de Tifaâââ ãâ¦ã I shall describe under the Towns whom they hâve their name Poictiers Capital of the whole Province lies forty Leagues from Orleans and sixty five from Paris to the South East It s antient Name is Augustoritum according to Ptolomy who also mentions another City under the name of ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Limonum which Sanson takes for Poictiers but that antient Geographer distinguishes them so plainly that I had rather to confess I know not what place Limonum is than to contradict him In process of Time Augustoritum was call'd Pictavi by the Name of the People of which it was the Head as Parisii Remi and many other Cities in the Gauls and afterwards Pictava Pictavorum Vrbs and Pictavium It seems to have formerly stood lower to the North at a place call'd le Vieux Poictiers not far from Chastelleraud because of the name of old Poictiers and of some Ruins of old Walls that are yet to be
1212. Raimond Count of Toulouse made it side with the Albigenses Simon Count of Montfort storm'd and plunder'd it the English did utterly destroy it and it suffered much during the Wars against the Protestants so that this Town is very different from what it has formerly been though it has yet a very famous Abbey of St. Bennets Order where as 't is said have been near 1000. Monks at once The Abbot is Joynt-Lord of it with the King which was regulated by a Sentence in 1229. c. Of Rouergue ROVERGVE Rutenicus Ager Borders to the East upon the Cevennes to the North upon Auvergne to the West upon Quercy and to the South upon Languedoc It lies between 43 Deg. 30 Min. and 44 Deg. 46 Min. of Lat. and betwixt 22 Deg. 22 Min. and 24 Deg. 15 Min. of Long. So that it takes up 37 Leagues East and West from S. Jean de Breuil to S. Antonin in its greatest length and 28 North and South from Mur de Barrez to Brusquez This Province is divided into three Parts viz. the County the Upper and Lower Marche the chiefest City of the first is Rodez of the second Milhau of the third Villefranche The Country is very plentiful in some places but barren in others There are Mines of Iron Antimony Copper Brimstone Alum Silver and as Strabon says of Gold too The greatest revenue of Rouergue consists in Cattel Wools Fruits Cheeses Hemps and Lines the only Trade of Mules that are bought there for Spain brings in every Year above 200000 Crowns It s Principal Rivers are the Tarn the Lot and the Aveirou It depends on the Parliament of Toulouse and boasts of 25 Towns and 50 great Burroughs 2 Bishopricks and a Elections under the Generality of Montauban There are ordinarily commended Rodez for his People Conques for its Gate Milhau for plenty of Almonds Nerac for Vitriol St. Antonin for Plunis Roquefort for Cheeses Monsalvi for its delicate blew and green Peases Vouse and Espaliou for excellent good Bread the Abbey of Aubrac for its Hospital and Alms Severac for its Castle Marcillac a Principalty for the Cave or den call'd Bouche-Roland that is near it and reaches four Leagues under ground The Inhabitants are both Couragious and Honest The Nobility there is very Generous and much respected by the Common People The City of Rhodez Segodunum or Ruteni is seated on the Aveirou 24 Leagues South East of Cahors and has the title of a County a Seneschalship and Bishoprick Suffragan of Albi. It is very Ancient but it has lost its former Ancient greatness having been often ruin'd by the Goths Saracens French c. The Cathedral is under the name of our Lady there are many others Churches and Monasteries and a fine Colledge of Jesuits Its first Bistop was as 't is believ'd St. Amand. The Counts of this City were of the House of Carlat and possessed that part which is called the Borrough and the Bishops were Master of the other that bears the name of the City The County belonged to the Counts of Toulouse Alfonsius the I. having resolv'd to take the Cross and to make a Journy into the Holy Land sold it in 1147. to Richard Son of Raimond Viscount of Carlat Richard left it to his Son Hughes I. Count of Rodez c. It was afterwards annexed to the County of Armagnac by a Marriage and a Judgment in the year 1312. John I. Count of Armagnac had a Grant of the French King Charles V. in 1375. that the four Juridictions of Rouergue should be Annexed to the County of Rodez which are St. Geniez la Roque-Valsergue Castagnes Begonimez and la Guiole After that all the Estates of the House of Armagnac came into that of Albret and the French King Henry the IV. carried to the Crown the County of Rodez as being the Patrimony of the House of Armagnac There is near that City the Mountain of Cansac which burns in the rain There are Mines of Copper Arsenick Azur and Silver Two Leagues from that Place is an Abyss called Tindoul 60 Paces broad and 200 deep On the side of that Abyss is to be seen a hole without Bottom The City of VABRES Castrum Vabrense is a Bishoprick and County Suffragan of Alby It was formerly a Famous Abby of St. Benets Order which Pope John XXII in 1317. Erected to a Cathedral Church The Abbot Peter Orlageo was its first Bishop It is 12 Leagues South of Rodez MILHAV Amilianum or Aemilianum is the Chief Town of the Upper Marche being upon the Tarn toward the Frontiers of Gevaudan 14. Leagues South-East of Rodez There are a great many Almond-Trees This Town has been famous during the Wars of Religion it being a strong hol'd but is Fortifications were razed in 1629. The Country depending on it is call'd Aemilianus-Pagus VILLEFRANCHE is the Chief Town of the Lower March with a Seneschalship and Presidial 12 Leagues West of Rodez The People is there very Civil and serviceable and provisions plentiful and cheap Saint Antonin lies upon the Confluence of the Aveirou and Bonnete 18 Leagues West South-West of Rodez with high Walls round it In the year 1226. Guy of Montfort yielded to the French King the Right he had on that Town Raimond Count of Toulouse protested against that Gift but in 1229. he approved by an Act of the Arbitrators Sentence pronounced by the Popes Legate and the Count of Champagne upon the Matter So that St. Antonin was adjuged to the Crown in 1245 Besnard Hugonis Son to Frocard Viscount of St. Antonin having sold to the French King Lewis IX what ever Right he had upon it The Protestants had Fortified themselves there but Lewis XIII turned them out of it in 1622. This Town is famous for its Plums There are besides others considerables Places as St. Just Estain Entraigues St. Come St. Geniez the Town and County of Espaliou Severac le Castel la Guiole the Abby of Anbrac c. Of Limosin LIMOSIN Lemovicinus Pagus Borders upon Auvergne to the East upon la Marche to the North part of Poictou Angoumois and Perigord to the West and Quercy to the South It lies between 44 Deg. 52 Min. and 45 Deg. 45 Min. of Latitude and between 21 Deg. 40 Min. and 23 Deg. 20 Min. of Longitude which make from South-East to North-West about 38 Leagues from Port-Dieu on the Frontiers of Auvergne to la Roche-chouart in Angoumois in its greatest length and 24 North and South from S. Priech on the Confluence of the Vienne and Taurion and the Borders of la Marche to Beaulieu on the Dordonne near the Province of Quercy This Country is generally cold and barren there is scarce any good Wine Save in the Lower Limosin and little Wheat but plenty of Rye Barley and Chestnuts of which the poorer sort make bread and because when they first go out of that Country and meet with good bread they eat it most greedily thence bread-gluttons have gotten in French the Sirname of
and Chalosse on the VVesâ and part of Chalosse and Armagnac on the Soutâ It reaches 30 Leagues East and West from âstaffort on the Giers to beyond the Gelouse bâ its greatest extent North and South is hardâ 12 Leagues and in some places only 2 4 6 â 7. However 't is subdivided in other smallâ Countries as Mursan Gavardan Fesensagueâ c. They say that Condomois yields all the nâcessaries for life and borrows nothing of iâ Neighbours The most considerable Places aâ Condom Bish Gondrin Corrensan Mezin Sâ Rimbes Montreal Gabaret Cap. of Gavardaâ Mauvesin Capital of Fesen saguet Mont de Maâsan with Roquefort and St. Justin c. The City of Condom Condomium Vasconum is âââted upon the Baise Balisa with a Bishopââer Suffragan of Bourdeaux three Leagues ââom Nerac it has a Presidial and Election âââe it was separated from the Bishoprick and âââschalship of Agen. The Pope John XXII ereâed it into a Bishoprick in 1327. and gave it ââe revenues of an Abbey of St. Benedict conââcrated to St. Peter which is now the Catheââal Raimond Gontard last Abbot of that Abââey was the first Bishop of Condom and the âanons were secularized in 1549. There are âany other Churches and several Monasteries This City was taken in 1569. by Gabriel of ââtmorency Commander of the Protestants Of the Landes THE LANDES are along the Sea between the Country of Labourd on thâ South Chalosse on the VVest and Bourdelois oâ the North. This is a barren Country that haâ in some places nothing but Heaths and Pastures where abundance of Cattel is feeding in somâ other places it yields a little Corn and a greaâ deal of Rye by the means of burnt Earth whicâ mixed with the sandy Soyl fattens it and makeâ it fruitful It 's extended 33 Leagues North East and South-West from Belin to Bayonne Buâ only 12 in its largest breadth from Tartas oâ the Adour to the Sea It was the Habitation oâ the ancient Tarbelli whom Caesar and Strabâ describe as living on the Sea-Coast of Aquitaâ from Bourdeaux to the Pyrenees The Places tâ be noted are Dax Bish Tartas Belin le Mâret Magese Albret c. The City of Dax or Aqs Aquae Augustâ or Aquae Tarbellicae lies upon the Adouâ with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and a Sâneschal's Court 13 Leagues North-East of Baâonne It is a trading City rich and well builâ with a Castle flank'd by many big rounâ Towers with a Garrison in it it is famouâ for its warm and healthful Bathes which werâ in great consideration in the times of the Râmans whence comes its name of Aquae and that of Aquitain Of Labourd THE Land or Country of LABOVRD or rather Lapord Lapurdensis pagus lies on the Frontiers of Spain between Bearn on the East the Landes on the North and the Ocean on the West This Country has in most ââtees little Corn and Wine but is plentiful in Fruits especially Pears and Apples of which they make excellent Syder It yields a great deal of Millet and Physical Herbs of great Virtue Whales have been taken upon its Coasts and there are Mineral Waters good for several Distempers This Country reaches 17 Leagues East and West from Bidache to Fontarabie but his extent North and South is not above six or seven Leagues The chief Places are Bayonne Bish St. J hn de Luz Luisium that is muddy places Bidache Siboule c. The City of Bayonne Lapurdum Boatium Ciâitos and vulgarly Baiona lies on the Confluence of the Adour and Nive which three Miles after disburthen themselves into the Sea It has a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and is one of the Keys of the French Kingdom toward Spain it is very rich because of its Trading and very strong The word Bayonne comes from Baie a Port and from Juna which signifies gooâ in the Bask or Country Language so that it as much as to say Good Port. 'T is in the Castâ of this City called Lapurdum that the Tribââ of the Novem Populan Cohort made his Residence it is under the Seneschal's Jurisdictioâ of Dax Near this City is a Hill on the top ãâã which one may see part of three Kingdoms viâ of France Castile and Navarre The Cathedral is dedicated to the blessed Virgin anâ St. Leon There are many other Churches anâ several Monasteries This Bishoprick was onââ extended into three Kingdoms viz. France Nâvarre and Castile but in 1565. Philip II. ãâã of Spain obtained from the Court of Roââ the dismemb ing of it on behalf of Pampeluââ This Country had formerly its own Viscounts Ships of any rate come up the River which ãâã very deep as far as the middle of the City Of Lower Navarre THE LOWER NAVARRE Borders on the Country of Labourd to the North-West and West on the Pyrenees to the South and the Viscounty of Soule to the East It is a Mounââinous Country which produces little Corn or Wine and yields only Millet Oates Pears and Apples of which they make Syder that is the usual drink of the Inhabitants Pasture ground is very good here the flesh of Cattel very delicate and the Wool very fine Game both small and great is likewise very common The most remarkable places are St. Palais the Capital St. John pie de Port S. Johannes âââpyrenaei Garris Garrucium la Bastide de Clarences S. Palais Fanum Sancti Pelagii is seated on the Rivers Bidouse almost 12 Leagues South-East of Bayonne It was the Seat of Chancery and Sovereign Justice before the Institution of the Parliament of Pau in 1620. it has still a Court of Mint c. Of Soule THE Viscounty of SOVLE Subola is ãâã little Country that makes part of Navarreâ and lies betwixt it and Bearn There is no remarkable place but Mauleon of Soule which iâ its chief Town called by the Latins Malleâ Oppidum or Castrum and is seated in the hearâ of it It 's the birth place of Henry Sponde Bishop of Pamiez who has continued the Annalâ of Baronius Of Bearn BEARN or Benearnensis pagus with the Title of Principality lies near the Pyrenees bordering on the County of Bigorre to the East Lower Armagnac to the North the Precincts of the Provost of Acqs Lower Navarre and the Viscounty of Soule to the West and the Mountains of Arragon and Ronçal to the South The chief Town of this Province is Pau the other most remarkable are Benearnum now Lescar Lascurris Oleron Iluro Nay Ourtes or Ortez Navarreins Morrane Sauveterre Pontac Sanbege Salies and 434 Burroughs or Villages 2 Bishopricks and 3 Abbeys It lies betwixt 42 Deg. 50 Min. and 43 Deg. 40 Min. Latitude and between 18 Deg. 50 Min. and 20 Deg. of Longitude its greatest strength East and West being about 22 Leagues and 20 North and South There are two Principal Rivers called Gave one has its source in the Mountains of Bareges in Bigorre and is called the Gave of Bearn and the other is that of Oleron which is a compound of
the Gave of Alpe and Ossau it has its source in the highest part of the Pyrenees where Bearn is divided from Spain these Rivers are not navigable but the plenty of Fish they afford makes amends for it from the highest Mountain of Ossau one may see both the Seas and the Mountains of Castile The Soil is rendred fruitful only by the labour and industry of the Inhabitants By the care and piety of Jaââ Queen of Navarre this Province and her other Countries embrac'd the Reformation So thaâ after the reconciliation of Henry the Great her Son to the Church of Rome the Sovereign Court of Pau petition'd the King who would re-establish the exercise of the Roman Religion in their Country that the Jesuits might be excluded from it which was granted to them and observed from the year 1599 to 1620 thaâ Lewis XIII repealed this Edict against his Fathers Murtherers In 1684. Lewis XIV forced the Bearnois with Dragoons to abjure thaâ Holy Religion they had profest almost an Age. The City of PAV upon the Gave of Pau or Bearn with a Parliament is pretty large and well built and the native Place of Henry the Great there is also a Court of Accounts and a College of Jesuits Pau lies 27 Leagues South East of Bayonne Of the County of Bigorre THE County of BIGORRE Bigerrones or Bigerri borders upon Armagnac to the North and East on Bearn to the West and part of Arragon to the South It s length North and South from the Pyrenees to Marbouquet is above 22 Leagues its largest breadth East-West 14 and in some places but 3 or 4 Leagues It is divided into three parts viz. the Mountains the Plain and the Rustan The first contains two Principal Valleys that of Lavedan the other of Barege the Plain is 5 Leagues long and 1 broad The Rustan has some little Hills along the River Arroz The Mountains are like a rail betwixt France and Spain there are four narrow and difficult passages viz. Azun Cauteres Barege and Campan which the Inhabitants are obliged to keep This Country yields a great deal of Jasp and Slate the Mountains have Silver Iron Copper and Lead Mines but they are not digg'd out There are 3 Lakes and 4 Principal Rivers viz. Adour Eschez Arroz and Lavedan which is composed of the Gaves of Barege Cauteres and Azun Eneco Arista was in possession of this County in 828. before he founded the Kingdom of Navarre and after many changes and revolutions Henry IV. annexed it to the Crown by an Edict in the Month October 1607. The most remarkable places are Tarbe Bish Vic de Bigorre Lourde Campan Rabasteins Bagneres Luz Cauteres c. The City of TARBE or Turba or Tarvia lies upon the Adour 10 Leagues East of Pau it 's a plentiful Country with a Bishop Suffragan of Ausch and a Seneschal the Cathedral is under the name of our Lady Lourde has a good strong Castle Benac is a Dutchy Barege is famous for its Waters Of Comminge COMMINGE Pagus Convenicus lies between Languedoc and Conserans on the East Armagnac on the North the County of Bigorre on the West and the Pyrenees on the South It is divided into upper properly Comminge and into Lower or the Diocese of Lombez This Country has had its own particular Counts before it was annexed to the French Crown It is pretty plentiful in Wheat Oates Wines Pastures Fruits and especially Walnuts which yield great quantity of Oyl it also abounds in all sorts of Fowl The most remarkable places are S. Bertrand of Comminge Bish Lombez Bish Montpezat Rieume Muret S. Beat Bagneres S. Gaudens L'Ile Dodon c. The City of S. BERTRAND of Comminge or Convene or Lugdunum Convenarum lies upon the Garonne 14 Leagues South-East of Tarbe with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and a Royal Court of Justice under the Seneschal and Parliament of Toulâuse the Bishop Seat is in the States of Languedoc Lombez is one of the Bishopricks erected by Pope John XXII in 1317. It 's Suffragan to Toulouse from which it is distant above 12 Leagues to the South-West and 12 North of S. Bertrand de Comminge It 's seated upon the Save in a very fruitful Soil bounded on one side with Hills covered with Vineyards and on the other with Plains abundant in Corn and Hay Of Conserans COSERANS or Conserans Pagus Consarannensis lies on the South of Comminge properly so called between Languedoc and the Pyrenees 't is a Viscounty which is thought to have been possessed by Arnold of Spain under the Title of a County whence the House of Montespan derives its Original After that it went over to the Counts of Carcassonne and from thence to the Kings of Navarre The chief place is S. LIZER of Conserans upon the River Salat 13 Miles East of S. Bertrand de Comminge with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Ausch and a Royal Court of Justice under the Parliament of Toulouses It is divided in two viz. City and Town the first is properly Coserans with the Concathedral Notre-Dame and the other is S. Lizier where is also the other Concathedral of the same name the Chapter consists of 12 Canons of which the first is Archdeacon of two Sextons two Precentors and one Almoner of 24 Priests Prebendaries with a Parson in each of these two Churches where the Service is perform'd at the same time Conserans is said to be properly the Episcopal See and that Valerius was its first Bishop and S. Lizier Glycerius the Fifth The other places of some note are S. Julian Cazeres Bonpaux S. Girons La Cour Castillon CHAP. XIII Of Languedoc THis Government is separated from Provence and Dauphiné by the River Rhone on the East it borders upon Auvergne Rovergue and Quercy on the North on the West and South-West the Garonne and some Mountains divide it from Gascony and Catalogne and on the South it has the Mediterranean Sea It is the first Province which the Romans conquered after Provence and the Allobroges In Caesar's time Narbonne one of the Capital Cities of this Government gave its name to Languedoc Provence Dauphiné and Savoy but Augustus divided it into two Provinces the Viennoise and Narbonnoise and this last was again subdivided into two whereof the first is our Languedoc Before Caesar the Inhabitants were called Volcae and subdivided into two powerful Nations viz. The Volcae Tectosages who possest the Western or Upper Languedoc from the Garonne and the Pyrenees to the Cevennes and the Mediterranean Sea and the Volcae Arecomici who enjoy'd Eastern or Lower Languedoc from these Mountains and Sea to the Rhone About the end of the 6th Century it began to be called Septimania from its 7 Capital Cities viz. Tolosa Toulouse Biterrae Beziers Nemausus Nimes Agatha Agde Magalona Maguelonne Leuteva Lodeve Vcecia Vzès By the Treason of Stilicon the Romans were forced to yield to the Goths all the first Narbonnoise Catalogne and a good part of Navarre and Aragon where they settled themselves and established
by some good Historians Languedoc has produc'd Women tho as honest here as in any other part of France use a freedom of accosting Strangers especially in Montpellier and Nismes which would be thought immodesty elsewhere but goes here under the name of gentleness and good manners This Province feeds abundance of Sheeps Goats and Herds of Cattle of Fowls and Beasts of Game for though there be few Forrests in the Plains yet besides that all the North North-East and South-West is cover'd with Mountains there is a Chain of them that crosses the Country from the Pyrenees to the Cevennes What conduces most to the fertility of Languedoc are the many Rivers that water it for besides the Rhone on the East and the Garonne on the West it has the Douine that rises near Bourg-Argental in the Velay washes Annonay and falls into the Rhone between Andance and S. Vallier The Douz rises in the Cevennes and mixes with the Rhone at Tournon The Eyrieu comes from the same Mountains receives the Dorie at le Cheylars the Gleure and the Orene at les Oullieres goes by S. Fortunat and discharges it self into the Rhone between Beauchastel and la Voulte The Scoutay runs into the same River at Viviers The Ardesche is more considerable than the former it rises likewise in the Cevennes near Montpezat receives the Volane and Bruens near Vals washes Aubenas and Vauguel then increas'd with the Leude Beaune and Chassezat goes by Salavas Ayguese and runs into the Rhone between Bourg S. Andiol and Pont S. Esprit The Ceze takes its source from Mount Lozere washes Ambroise Monceus Cornillon Bagnols and falls into the Rhone at Condoules 5 Miles West of Orange A mile lower is the Mouth of the Tave that goes by Couvillargues and Ladun The Gardon or Guard Vardo is made up of two Brooks both rising in the same Mountains the most easterly is call'd le Gardon d' Aluis and the most westerly le Gardon d' Anduse from two Towns of that name which they go by then uniting at Cassagnole and increas'd with some small Brooks as the Droude the Braume the Aysene that comes from Vzès and receives the Alzon they pass under the famous Pont du Guard and fall into the Rhone near the Island Valabregue and the Town of Beaucaire The Vistre or the River Nimes Nemausus as Ausone calls it rises at the foot of a Hill near the Walls of that City and increas'd with a Rivulet coming from some Mountains near Ledenon 3 Leagues Northwards washes Bernis Vauvert Aymargues La Caila and discharges its Waters into the Pond call'd Laterna or Taurus Palus l'Etang du Tau between Aigues-mortes and the Island Maguelonne The same Pond which reaches 18 Leagues East and West along the Mediterranean Coast and has communication with that Sea by Grau du Roy and Grau de Palavas receives 8 or 9 other Rivers among which the most considerable is the Vidourle that rises in the Cevennes goes by S. Hippolite Sauve Quissas Ville-vieille Sommieres Marsiliargues and has its mouth but a League West of that of the Vistre The Berenge the Cadoule the Salonon the Lez or the River of Montpellier the Caulazon increas'd with the Lamousson the Laverne and the Palas deserve hardly to be nam'd The Eraut Arauris or Cyrta rises in the Mountains of Gevaudan where it is increas'd with the Arré washes Ganges S. Bauzely receives the Vis near Brisac and the Buege near Pont S. Esteve goes by S. Guillem le Desert S. Jean de Foz and Canet where it mixes with the Lergue increas'd by the Solondre receives the Peyne at Pezenas the Touque at S. Tubery le ts out a branch to Florensac and another above Agde below which its greatest Mouth mixes with the Mediterranean Sea A League Westwards is that of the River Lerron and 2 Leagues farther that of Orbe which rises in the Diocese of Castres near a Village call'd Cellies de Languedoc receives the Vicousan and the Mare at Bec de Rioux washes Colombiers la Voute where it is increas'd with the Jaur and the Vezenobre at Cessenox goes by Beziers Ville-neuve-la-Cremade and falls into the same Sea near Serignan The Aude Atax comes from the Pyrenees washes Alet Limoux and Carcassonne where it is increas'd with several Rivulets join'd together as the Fresquel the Vernassone the Alzon and having received the Vrviel and the Orbieu separates into two Branches three Miles above Narbonne whereof the least being increas'd with the River Cesse runs into the Grau of Vendres and the biggest pursuing its course towards Narbonne falls into the Pond of La Robine Rubresus or Rubrensis Lacus The Ariege or Auriege Areia and Aregia rises in the Pyrenees washes Aqs Tarascon S. Paul Foix Barilles Pamiers Sabaudin where it receives the Lers that comes from the same Mountains goes through the Town and Dioceses of Mirepoix and is increas'd in his way with the Lambroue at Chalabre the Doudbuire at Rieucroix and the Bosegue at Belpuech then joyn'd with the Gabelle they go by Cintegabelle Haurerive Lezat where they receive the Leze and unite with the Garonne at Portet 5 Miles South ãâã Toulouse The Little or Petit Lers issues ââom a Mountain near Castelnaudary goes by âardoux Montesquiou Baziegue Mongiscar reâeives the Marquessone the Sone the Seillonre âhe Girou and falls into the Garonne near S. Joââ 7 Miles North of Toulouse The Agout Agoââ rises in the Diocese of S. Pons de Tomieres ând being increased with the Gigeou and some âther Rivulets washes Castres receives the Duââquc and the Thoret near it goes by S. Pol ââvaur and somewhat lower the Agros increas'd âââh the Denat Oubus and Dadou discharges its âaters into it then they mix together with ââe Tarn Tarnis at S. Sulpice The Tarn deââends from Mount Losere in Gevaudan passes ây Montwert Espagnac Quessas S. Eremie S. âbely du Tarn Peyrebeau where it receives the ââaâte and the Trevezel with the Dourbie at ââlbaud the Cernon between S. George and Comââeignac the Sergue that goes through S. Fricââe and Vabres at Brougnies the Dordon hard by âhe Alrance at Trebas then washes Alby Gaillac Rabastens Villemur Montauban mixes with the âveyrou near l'Isle-made with the Lute and Lemâulas near Moissac and runs into the Garonne âetween this Town and S. Nicolas Here is methinks the proper place to speak âf that Master-piece of Work the Canal of Languedoc The design was to convey Merâhandizes from one Sea into another a very âseful undertaking if it might be compleatly performed It was begun in 1666 by Mr. Riâet and the first Essay was made by his Sons ân 1681. One would think that it was not a very hard task since the source of the little Lers is not above two Leagues from the Fresquel that mixes with the Aude 3 or 4 Miles farther and that there are Torrents and Rivers round about whose course might easily be turn'd to increase the Aude with them and render it
navigable besides the Snow-water of the neighbouring Mountains that might be spar'd in Reservers Ponds and Sluces None of these things has been forgotten for a canal has been digg'd of 127600 Toises which make above 63 common Leagues of France in length upon 30 foot or 5 Toises in breadth every where There are several surprising works as the Reserver of S. Ferreol which has above 2000 Toises in Circuit and is 90 Foot deep in some places It 's used to receive and to keep the Waters of the black Mountain which are detain'd there by a Causey and 3 strong Walls These Waters fall into the Bason of Naurouse which is 200 Toises long and 150 broad and lin'd all over with Free-stone This Bason is digg'd in the highest place of the Canal so that the included Waters may be let loose on both sides and go each a contrary way The Bridge of the Torrent Repudre is also considerable by the novelty of its use for while Boats somewhat large row over this Bridge which is 70 Toises long built with Free-stone and cover'd every where with 7 Foot of Water the Rivulet runs under the Bridgeâ The Vault of Malpas is yet more surprising for it is a Rock pierced through to give way to the Waters that has eighty Toises in length four in breadth and four and a half in heigth and on both sides is a rais'd way to draw on the Boats Of Toulousan THis Country included between the Rivers Aveyrou Garonne and Arriege the County â Foix and Albigeois is 26 Leagues North and âouth but hardly 10 or 12 East and West It âontains the Diocese of Toulouse Montauban La ââur and S. Papoul or the Country of L' Auraâââ of which I shall speak in the same order Of the Diocese of Toulouse THE ancient Inhabitants of Toulouse the Volcae Tectosages filled up a far greater Country than this Diocese and even the Toulousan for their Dominions reached as far as the Northern end of the Cevennes they confin'd to the very Santones or Saintonge if we believe Caesar and had the Mediterranean Sea and the Pyrenees on the South Their Territory abounded with Gold which having raised a sedition amongst 'em such as prov'd the weakest went in search of a new Land under the Conduct of Brennus and having landed in Phrygia conquered the best part of it which afterwards was call'd from them Galatia and Gallograecia But a difference arising about the division of their Conquests 20000 parted from Brennus and went back to Thracia now Romania headed by two of their Kings Lomnorius and Lutatius These were as successful as their Confederates for they overcame such as withstood them made the others their Tributaries and took Byzanice now Constantinople the chief Town of that Country Some time after hearing of the riches of Asia they past the Hellespont or Streights of Gallipoli and taking hold of a Civil War betwixt Tit. Liv. l. 38. Nicomedes and Zybaen who disputed the Kingdom of Bithynia they assisted the first who remained victorious by their help then pursuing their Conquests farther into Asia tho from 20000 they were reduced to 10000 yet they brought such a terrour upon the neighbouring Nations even beyond Mount Taurus that they all submitted to their Empire As they were issued from three Gaulish Nations * The two first are unknown it seems they were neighbours or a branch of the Tectosagi who perhaps after their departure seiz'd upon their Country and thus came the name of both to be lost It may be that they liv'd in the Diocese of Alby for the Albigeois Albienses are not mention'd by any ancient Geographer Trocmi Tosistobogii and Tectosagi so they divided Less Asia into 3 parts the Trocmi had the Borders of the Hellespont the Tolistobogii Aeolis Ionia and the Tectosagi the inland Country taking Aâcyra for the Seat of their Kingdom These became so powerful that they put even the Kings of Syria under contribution and remain'd in that State till they were overcome by a Roman Consul Cneus Manlius Vulso in 565. of Rome Ptolomy ascribes eight Capital Cities to the Gaulish Tectosages viz. Toulouse Collioure or Illiberis Roussillon or Ruscino Narbonne Carcassonne Beziers Cessero esteem'd by some Castres and by other S. Tubery and Agde or Agatha Speaking of Languedoc I have observed the several changes of Masters and Governments which Toulouse as the head of this Province has undergone so that I have but to mention that even long after the French had conquer'd all Septimania as under the Reign of Lewis the Meek the Toulousan Pagus Tolosanus made up a distinct Country as having been in the French hands long before the rest of Septimania Toulouse and its Latin name Tolosa are very ancient for Caesar makes mention of the Tolosates but the time of its foundation is altogether uncertain for those who ascribe it to one Tolus Grand-child to Japhet are fabulous Authors As it came early under the domination of the Romans so they pleased themselves in beautifying it with several stately Buildings as a Palace an Amphitheater and a Capitole which last honour they made common with Rome to two other Towns only viz. Narbonne and new Carthage or Carthagena but there are no remains of any of ' em All what we know of that of Toulouse is that it was dedicated to Jupiter built in a very high place and still in being in the middle of the XIII Century but made use of as a Town-house for the Senators or Magistrates assembled there in Council as Peter Maurice Abbot of Cluny relates in a Letter against the Petrobrusians Thence probably it is that the Sheriffs of this City are yet call'd Capitouls Anciently they were 24 in number who were reduced to 12 under Alfonse of Poictiers last Count of Toulouse 6 for the City and as many for the Burrough and again to 4 and then to 6 in 1390. by an Edict of the French King Charles VI. to which two others were added 1392 5 for the City and 3 for the Burrough In 1401 they were increased to 12 8 for the City and 4 for the Burrough but in the very same year they were again reduc'd to 8 and 2 only left to the Burrough which diâision has ever since subsisted Aulu-Gellius relates that Q. Servilius Cepio a Roman Consul having taken and plunder'd Toulouse in 648 of Rome found a great quantity of Gold in its Temples but that all those who were partakers of this Booty came to a Tragical end For Orosius says that he sent this Treasure to Marseille but caus'd all the Leaders to be put to death in the way that he alone might enjoy it which perfidious cruelty so meens'd the Romans against him already inrag'd at his having been defeated by the Cimbres that they confiscated his Goods and bought Lands of it for the People As for him he dy'd most miserably in Exile whence came the Proverb habet aurum Tolosanum he has of Toulouse's Gold said of
such whose riches did not prosper Valerius Maximus assures that this Booty was found in Marshes and consisted in Wedges of Gold and Silver 15000 Talents worth Orosius fixes it to the value of 100000 Found in Gold and 110000 in Silver but Justin increases it to 110000 Pound of Gold and 5000000 of Silver and adds that it was the plunder which the Tectosages brought home from the expedition of Delphos which last account is altogether fabulous since such of the Tectosages who went into Greece and Asia never returned back to their own Country having either been kill'd or settled themselves there as Polybius Pausanias Livy and all the ancient Authors testifie So that the matter of fact is true viz. that there was a vast quantity oâ Gold and Silver in or about Toulouse which was taken away by Cepio but it remains doubtful whence it came whether it had been extracted out of Mines they had in their Country or gathered up through the course of many years by this industrious and warlike People averse to Luxury and Expences as Valerius Maximus qualifies them Toulouse has twice had the honour to be the head of a Kingdom under the Wisigoths before Clovis and under Charibert to whom Dagobert his Brother King of France yielded the Tolosaâ Quercy Agenois Perigord Saintonge and Gascony As to the State of the Church though the Cathedral be dedicated under the name of S. Stephen yet S. Saturnin is thought to have been the first Bishop of it in the second Age and to have been precipitated by the Heathens headlong the Capitole Pope John XXII erected this City into an Archbishoprick in 1317. and submitted to it the Bishoprick of Pamiez with six Monasteries that he chang'd into Episcopal Sees viz. Montauban Rieux Mirepoix la Vaur Lombez and S. Papoul of which the 5 last were formerly included within this Diocese The Parliament of Toulouse was instituted by the French King Philip the Fair in 1302 and made sedentary by Charles VII in 1442 or 1443 who subjected to it all Upper and Lower Languedoc and the 3 Countries of the Cevennes besides some part of Guyenne and Gascony as Quercy Rouergue Cominges Gaure Armagnac Estrac Lomaigne Magnoac and Bigorre This if we believe Du Chesne was occasioned by a difference between the King and Matthew of Fâix Count of Chastelbon Husband to Jane Daughter to the Earl of Cominges and Boulogne The French Monarch pretended to be Heir to that Lady and on that account he summoned them both to appear before his Parliament of Toulouse in 1442 and at the same time fixed there the Seat of that Sovereign Court Besides the Parliament there is an Office of Chancery a Seneschalship and Presidial whose Chief justice is call'd Juge-Mage a Viguery that is the same Court which on this side the Loire is call'd Prevoté or Provostship General Treasurers and a Receiver General of the King 's Dânesne Add to this the Court of the Capitouls who judg of all such things as belong to Police or the City Government as appears by that they have lately condemned * See the Journal des Savans Dec. 22. 1692. This happen'd on the 21 of July 1691. a pretended Hermaphrodite but a real Woman born in 1669 and call'd Margaret Mallaure to be from henceforth cloath'd as a Man and to bear the name of Antony Mallaure because when she became 14 years of Age it was given out that she had more of the Man than of the Woman This young Maid thus disguised against her will came to Paris last Winter 1693 where the Physicians of that great City more learn'd than those of Toulouse discovered that it was but a sort of broken Belly and having cur'd her of that Disease She presented a Petition to the French King in order to reverse the Sentence of the Capitouls against her and to restore her to he natural Cloaths and Fame which was granted The University for Civil and Canon Law waâ instituted by Raimond VII Count of Toulouse and endow'd with many fine Privileges by Popâ John XXII and by Innocent VI. who founded the College of S. Martial the others as thaâ of Foix Narbonne Maguelonne Pampelune Perigord Ste. Catherine and Mirepoix have been founded by several Prelates and Noblemen Toulouse will not yield to any City in France for bigness magnificence or the number of Inhabitants and 't is not of late that it is grown so considerable for in the fourth Century Ausonius bestows on it the following Elogy Non unquam altricem nostri reticebo Tolosam Coctilibus Muris quam circuit ambitus ingens Perque latus pulchro perlabitur amne Garumna Innumeris cultam populis confinia propter Ninguida Pyrenes pinea Coebennarum Inter Aquitanas Gentes nomen Iberum Quae modo quadruplices ex se cum effuderit urbes Non ulla exhauste sentit dispendia plebis Quos genuit cunctos gremio complexa colonos I shall never forget Toulouse wherein I have been educated whose large circuit is surrounded with Brick-walls and wash'd with the fine River Garonne which is inhabited by a numberless People whose Borders reach near the Snow of the Pyrenees and the Pine-trees of the Cevennes being seated between Aquitain and Spain which when four Cities shall flock out of it it shall not feel the loss nor be exhausted of People if it but keep such Inhabitants as are born within its bosom If this be the true sense as it seems the most natural to me Toulouse was doubtless one of the greatest Cities in the Gaules Adrian de Valois pretends that these quadruplices Vrbes are four Countries which had newly modo been added to the Toulousan but he neither names them nor gives any proof for it Besides that the Poet does not speak as he supposes in an absolute sense or say that Toulouse has but lately set out four Cities on the contrary his expressions are hypothetical cum essuderit that though it should happen so however it would hardly feel the loss provided it should keep ââdo complexa fuerit its native Inhabitants The Romans used to solemnize Floral Games at the beginning of May in honour of the Goddess Flora but accompany'd with very dishonest shews Those that the Toulousaans still celebrate under that name and at the same time are only attended with such circumstances as are most proper to stir up vertue and ingenuity A President and 4 Counsellors of the High Court of Parliament with the eight Capitouls and the other Magistrates of the City come in their Nobes on the 1. of May into the Council-hall to hear the Poets recite their Verses and on the 3d. day after a sumptuous Treat and a Sonnet to be made immediately by the pretenders to the Prizes who are included to that effect in a great Hall these Prizes are distributed by the plurality of Votes They are three in number and consist in so many golden Flowers each of the value of about 14 Pound the first is a
Columbine call'd by the French Ancolie and by the Languedocians Eglantine the second iâ a Mary-gold and the third a Violet The institution of those Games is variously reported â some ascribe it to a great Lady call'd Clemence Isaure who bequeathed the greatest paât of her Estate to the Town-house upon that account and whose Statue of white Marble is yet to be seen in the great Hall but the Registers of Toulouse attribute it to seven Noble-men in 1324. Howsoever it be this Solemnity is not only laudable but even worthy to be imitated by Princes Commonwealths and great Cities for besides that it would give an honest diversion and emulation to the ingenious it would be as a Touch-stone to know the several degrees and abilities of understanding Men for extraordinary Poets are for the most part uncommon Genius's and might successfully be employ'd in weightier undertakings Toulouse is divided into two parts by the River Garonne and into 8 Wards in reference to its 8 Capitouls The first is the Daurade so call'd from a very ancient Church under the name of our Lady that was formerly a Temple of the Sun This Precinct comprehends several Churches Monasteries and Colleges the Pest-house and the Suburb of S. Cyprian with the great Hospital of S. James The second Ward bears the name of S. Stephen the Metropolitan Church built in a great Market adorn'd with a fountain upon which is rais'd a fine Obelisque In 1609. this Church was all burn'd except that part which is call'd the Cloyster and has 'till some Gothick Statues of half emboss'd work It has since been rebuilt statelier than before with a great and high Tower wherein hangs the Bell Ardaillac which is so very big that they dare not ring it lest the Belfrey should fall besides 14 vaulted Chappels round about the Quire There are also the Archbishop's Palace the Town-house or Capitole adorn'd with the Pictures of the Entries of the French Kings within Toulouse and of the Capitouls in their Robes the Arsenal the Chappels of the white and blew Penitents with several Churches Convents and Colleges The Old-Bridge gives its name to the third Ward and is but a course piece of Building worthier of the Goths than of the Romans The New-bridge which is far finer doth hardly yield to that of Paris and no wonder since it was begun in 1544 and but ended about the middle of this Age. In this Precinct are the Exchange the Court of the Provost and Consuls of Merchants and the Cage wherein Blasphemers are included to be drown'd into the Garonne The fourth Ward call'd La Pierre or the Stone has nothing considerable The fifth takes its name from the Church Dalbade enjoy'd by the Fathers of the Oratory since the year 1620. There are besides the Inquisition a place well known by the cruelties against the Albigeois near which is a round Castle esteem'd by Du Chesne to be a remainder of the ancient Capitole the Island S. Antony form'd by the Garonne and inhabited by Handicraft-men The sixth Ward call'd S. Pierre des Cuisines has among other Churches and Monasteries that of the Franciscans sirnamed Observantins which exceeds all the rest in bigness and sumptuosity but is especially renowned for a Cave which consumes Dead-bodies without anointing the Skin and displacing the Joynts Here is the University with the College of Foix founded by Peter Cardinal of Foix and endow'd with two Libraries one of Mss and the other of Printed Books that of Narbonne founded by Gambert Archbishop of Arles and Narbonne in 1342 that of L'Equille begun in 1561 and ended 1608 at the expences of the Town for teaching the Hebrew Greek and Latin Tongues Here are also the Mills of the Basacle whose Workmanship is esteem'd one of the greatest curiosities of Toulouse This place in Latin Vadaculum that is small foord gives likewise its name to a Bridge and a gate hard by the Castle The seventh Ward call'd S. Bartholomew has the Castle Narbonnoise which was the ordinary Residence of the Counts of Toulouse and a very strong place before K. Charles VII Now it is the Palace of the Parliament with the Hall of the Pleas the Marble-Table the Prisons call'd Hauts-murats the Court of the Exchemier and the Mint where Money is coyn'd and mark'd at the Letter M. The eighth Ward under the name of S. Sernin or Saturnin an ancient Collegiate Church defended by Guns at the top of it so plac'd that none of the many Pillars which underprop the Building can cover a Man from their Shot This they do because of the great Treasure that is included in this Church for there are above 50 Silver-skreens wash'd over with Gold besides the Jewels and Church-ornaments Here are the Tombs of the ancient Counts of Toulouse of its Prelates and Nobility Five Miles North-West of this City lies the Village or Lordship of Pibrac which I mention here for having giv'n its name to a Toulousan Gentleman Gui du Faur Lord of Pibrac President of the Parliament of Paris and Ambassador of France to the Council of Trent and then to Poland under Charles IX and Hen. III. He has left several loose Discourses and pieces of Poetry but the most renown'd are his Moral Quatrains which for their brevity majesty and if I may so speak sententiousness may still challenge the first place among all which has been written in this kind by uninspired Men. It appears by several passages of this golden Book that the Author was not at all addicted to the Superstitions of Rome though he never publickly embraced the Reformation no more than divers other Great and Learned Men of his time who seem'd to approve of the Doctrine but did not like the manner of propogating it Seven Miles South-west of Toulouse lies the Village of Plaisance so call'd from the goodness of its Air Soyl and Situation Adrian de Valois supposes it to be the Vernus Sol of Aethicus but I rather take it for a place call'd Vernouse which lies just 15 Italian Miles South-west of Toulouse as the Vernus Sol of that Geographer I find nothing considerable of the other places of this Diocese as Montoriol Vieille Toulouse S. Jori Columiers Castel-moron Ville-Longue Ville-neuve Montagut Montgaillard Verseuil Lenta Carmain with the title of a County Of the Diocese of Montauban MOntauban Mons Albanus is one of the 6 Bishopricks of Pope John XXII's erection It was formerly a Monastery founded by Theodard Archbishop of Narbonne and when it was made a Cathedral the Abbot Bertrand du Puy was the first Bishop of it As to the Town it was but at the beginning a very strong Castle which in process of time increas'd into a considerable City by the fertility of its Soyl and the conveniency of its Situation upon a Hill and the Rivers Tescounot and Tarn on the high way from Toulouse to Limoges and thence to Paris It was built or repair'd in 1144 and united to the French King's Domesne in 1171
for the Helvii of Caesar who are rather those of Vivarais and Sanson for the Fleutheres or Heleutheres subject to the Auvergnats as well as those of Quercy Gevaudan and Velay adding withal that the Cambolectri whom Pliny places in Aquitania inhabited the Diocese of Alby and the Cambolectri Atlantici the Diocese of Castres But as he grounds his conjectures upon no certain foundation so they are rejected by De Valois We have already seen that the Tectosages fill'd up all the Western part of Languedoc to the very Cevennes and the Mediterranean Sea and consequently that the Albigeois might well be the ancient Tolistobogii or Trocmi Neighbours Allies or Subjects to the Tectosages I have observ'd in the first part of this Book how the Disciples of Vigilantius spread in Guyenne and Languedoc were for a long time as a Bank that stopp'd the overflowing superstition But when this Torrent grew so strong that this Barrier prov'd too weak God rais'd new Defensors to his Church At the beginning of the XII Century Peter of Bruys a Native of Dauphiné Preached and writ successfully against the prevailing Errors and was happily seconded by Henry a Monk of Toulouse The Papists had recourse to their usual Arms Fire and Sword by which means they both got the Crown of Martyrdom But their Blood prov'd as well as that of the first Christians the Seed of the true Church so that after the Dispersion of Valdo's Disciples about 1160 some ofââem retiring in those parts they were kindly receiv'd The vulgar had so good an Opinion of them that they commonly call'd them les Bons Hommes the Good Men and even Raymââd the old Count of Toulouse Peter King of Arragon the Counts of Foix Comminges and the Viscounts of Bearn spoused their Cause And as Error and Vice are always timorous so the Popes began to fear that their fatal day was come and publish'd a Croisade against those pretended Hereticks as though they had been Heathens or Mahometans The Albigeois under the Wings of their Lords and Protectors defended themselves almost an Age but at last they were over-pow'red by the number the French King 's catching hold of that opportunity to deprive those petty Soveraigns of their Principalities Then it was that such as had escap'd the Sword in the Field of Battel fell in the bloody hands of the Inquisitors who at long run made an end of them however not so as wholly to root the seeds of the truth out of their heart which sprouted out again when our first Reformers appear'd in the last Age for then the Provinces of Languedoc and Guienne the ancient Seat of the Albigeois produced more Converts than all the others of France taken together We have hardly any Account of the Albigeois then by such as were their sworn Enemies Accusers or rather Executioners so that upon the plain confession of Popish Authors that the Albigeois held almost all the same Doctrines with the Protestants and that they rejected the same Superstitions for which the last are still divided from the Church of Rome we might look as Calumnies some Manichean Tenets ascrib'd to them as to deny the Divinity of the Old Testament to admit a good and a bad Principle c. But to clear these Christian Hero's for ever we have but to observe that the Manicheans having been banish'd the East by the Greek Emperours they first spread themselves into Germany thence they passed into Italy and France where meeting with a People averse from Persecution they readily crept and skulk'd amongst them and the malicious Inquisitors catching some of these Hereticks took hold of this occasion to defame the true Albigeois The R. D. Allix has given such incontestable proofs of these Matters of Fact that I cannot imagine that a Roman Catholick of any sincerity will ever renew such notorious Calumnies ALBY Albia or Albiga Capital of this Country lies upon the River Taân 17 Leagues North-East of Toulouse and 14 South-East of Montauban It s Foundation and Antiquity are unknown for no antient Geographer remembers it and the first mention of it that De Valois could find is in an old Notice of the Gaules which puts Civitus Albiensum in the fourth place among the 8 Cities of the first Aquitain though some of latter date name it but the seventh in Order Gregory of Tours testifies that one Salvius was Bishop of Alby under the Children of Clovis and another call'd Sabinus subscrib'd to the Council of Agde in 506. but whether S. Clair a Martyr planted there Christianity and was the first Bishop of that Town is uncertain Charlemaign having erected Aquiââââ into a Kingdom on behalf of Lewis the Meek his Son establish'd Counts in the Principal Cities who together with the Bishops were to be the young Prince's Counsellours and Aimoin was nam'd the first Count of Alby All these Counts having made themselves Soveraigns during the decay of the French Monarchy the Estate of the Counts of Alby pass'd by marriage into the House of Toulouse and then both returned to the French Kings by the ãâã I have hinted speaking of Languedoc Alby has been a long time a Suffragan to Bourâââ and one of the richest Bishopricks in France being about 50000 Crowns worth but ãâã it was made a Metropolitan by Pope ââcent XI in behalf of Hyacinthe Serroni a Roman Gentleman and the Dioceses of Rodez Castrer Cahors Vabres and Mende detached from Bourges to whose Prelate has been given a recompence of some additional Revenues The Archbishop of Alby is still Lord temporal of that City and the King has but there a Viguier for his Chief Justice The Cathedral under the name of S. Cecile has one of the finest Quires in that Kingdom The other Towns or considerable Burroughs of this Diocese are Pennes upon the Aveyrou Cordes Monestier and Caramous upon the Ceron Pampelone upon the Biaur Gaulene and Valence near the source of the Ceron Tais Maillat Ville-neuve Cajousac Castelnau de Montmirail and Peucelsy upon the Vere Rabasteins l'Isle Gaillac la Bastide de Lenis Lescure and Trebas upon the Tarn on the North side Grioussens Cadelens Denat Albain on the South of that River Lombers on the Assou Realmont on the Dadou c. Gaillac is famous for its white Wines whose Drunkenness is not felt but an hour after the Debauch At Rabasteins was fought a memorable Battel between the Duke of Berri and the Count of Foix in 1381. Castres the second Bishoprick contain'd in Albigeois is seated on the Agout nine Leagues South of Alby and 16 East of Toulouse Both the Town and the Bishoprick are new for we find no mention of the Town in ancient Geographers only the Historians of the Albigenses as Peter the Monk mention it as an illustrious Castle under the name of Castra and as the head of the Country of Albigeois As to the Bishoprick it was erected by Pope John XXII in 1317 instead of the Abby of S. Vincent whose body was secretly convey'd from
State it then was Now it is but a heap of ruines near the King's Gate call'd by the Inhabitants Capdueil One may judge of the former magnificence of this City by the following Verses of Sidonius Apollinaris Salve Narbo potens salubritate Qui urbe rure simul bonus videris Muris Civibus ambitu tabernis Portis porticibus foro Theatro Delubris Capitoliis Monetis Thermis Arcubus Horreis Macellis Pratis fontibus insulis salinis Stagnis flumine merce ponte ponto Vnus qui jure venerere Divos Lenaeum Cererem Palem Minervam Spicis palmite pascuis tapetis Well met mighty healthful Narbonne thou that art renown'd both for thy Town and Territory for thy Walls Citizens Circuit Taverns Gates Galleries Palace Amphitheatre Temples Capitole Mint Bathes Arches Granaries Shambles Meadows Fountains Islands Salt-pits Ponds River Merchandizes Bridges and Sea Thou art the only City that may by right present those Gods with offrands Bacchus Ceres Pales Minerve with Vine-branches Ears of Corn Hay Tapestries c. Du Chesne adds that the Romans had built there Aqueducts besides and erected publick Schools much like to our Universities We are apt to imagine that the only design of these Conquerors of the World was to shew their Magnificence and withal the Greatness and Power of their Empire But if I am not mistaken these shrewd Politicians had a farther insight Cicero says that they had planted that Colony as a Watch-Town and a Rampier or a Fence of the Roman People against the Natives Specula Populi Romani ac propugnaculum istis ipsis Nationibus oppositum objectum And lest the new Inhabitants should contract too great a familiarity with the ancient care was taken to raise those of Roman Original so far above the Gauls that they should endeavour to keep up their grandure by a constant Union with the head of the Empire Since they had began to follow this method we read but of few Rebellions in their new and yearly conquests and of a fewer in their Foreign Plantations Contrariwise they erected on their side publick Monuments of their gratitude to their Benefactors such was the Altar our Narbonenses built to Cesar August after his Death and Apotheosis and the sacrifices they instituted in his honour whose Laws were ingraven in Capital Letters on a Marble-table that is yet subsisting The chief of them were that on the 23. of September the day that August was proclaim'd Emperor as also on the first of January and the 7 of June three Roman Plebeian Knights and three Freemen * Libertini Sons to Slaves made free should each of them offer Sacrifices and furnish the Plantation and other Inhabitants with Wine and Frankincense of their own Some fabulous Authors pretend that Narbonne was built by a Gaulish King call'd Narbon but it appears that this name is not much older than the Romans time since this Country was anciently inhabited by the Bebryces a Nation confining on the Iberians or Spaniards as Stephanus has it whose testimony is confirmed by that of Marcianus â In Periplo Galliae who speaks of the Maritime Bebryces Neighbours to the Ligurians and the Grecian Cities of Gaul that is to the Coasts of Marseille and Genoa Rufus Festus Avienus describing the Southern Coast of Languedoc says that it was all possest by the Bebryces and that Narbonne was then the head of a powerful Kingdom which reach'd according to Ausonius â Descr Ill. Civit. from Franche-Comté to the Pyrenées North and South and from the Cevennes to Aquitain East and West Tzetses in his Commentaries on Lycophron relates out of Dion that those who are now call'd Narbonnesians had formerly the name of Bebryces and that the Pyrenean Mountains which separate Spain from Gaul belong'd to them whereupon the Poet Silius Italicus has grounded this Fable that Pyrene Daughter to King Bebryx whom Hercules got with Child going to Spain through Gaul gave her name to these Mountains It seems that the Bebryces who inhabited part of Bithynia were issued from this Gaulish People whom this Plantation weakned so much that the Tectosages master'd their Country or made it Tributary whence it came that in process of time they lost their ancient Name as well as their Empire for in Pliny's Age they were only known as a part of the Tectosages Narbonne remained faithful to the Romans till the utmost decay of the Western Empire in 435 that it was besieg'd by the Goths under their King Theodoric It then made a considerable resistance but in 462. Count Agrippin its Governour envying the prosperous successes of Aegidius or Gillon Chief Commander of the Roman Militia in the Gauls delivered this City into the Enemies hands The Goths were content with the demolishing of its Walls and preserv'd its other Monuments of Antiquity but the barbarous Huns who took it some time after destroy'd them all Notwithstanding it recover'd still part of its former lustre and when the Saracens took and plunder'd it in 732 it was become again the finest the most famous and the Capital of that Country if we may believe Aimoin but Charles Martel who retook it not long after made a greater havock in all Lower Languedoc than the Enemies themselves However of all the mischiefs Narbonne has been expos'd to the most sensible seems to be the unworthy treatment it receiv'd from Simon of Montfort who by the help of numerous Croisades having at last got the better of Raimond Count of Toulouse and his Vassals and Confederates ordered the Inhabitants of Narbânne to throw down their own Walls which they were forc'd to do for fear of the worst As to the Civil Government we have hinted how this City was at first the head of a Kingdom under the Bebryces then subject to the Tectosages and afterwards to the Romans who made it the Capital of and gave its name to the fourth part of Gaule call'd from hence Gallia Narbonnensis and since subdivided into 5. Provinces the 1 and 2 Narbonnoise the Viennoise the Greek Alps and the Maritini Alps that is all Savoy Dauphiné Provence Lower Languedoc Roussillon the Toulousan and the County of Foix. During the decay of the French Monarchy under the second race of their Kings the Dukes of Septimania took upon them the Title of Dukes of Narbonne as did likewise the Counts of Toulouse their Successors but the following Lords of this Town and adjacent Territories contented themselves with the Name of Viscounts which they bore from 1134 to 1507. that Gaston of Foix last Viscount of Narbonne exchang'd it for other Lands with the French King Lewis XII his Uncle If we believe the Tradition of the most credulous of Roman Catholick Authors the Proconsul Sergius Paulus converted by the Apostle of that name was the first Preacher of Christianity at Narbonne and consequently its first Bishop But though this Tradition be uncertain this Church is however of a great antiquity and there are plausible proofs that it has been
said to yield to none of that Country in well breeding and comeliness but to those of Montpellier The late Governours of Languedoc as the Duke of Montmorency and the Prince of Conti have kept here their ordinary Residence and the States of the Province have been consequently held here which has much contributed to the enriching and beautifying of this Town The other places of this Diocese are Marseillan Florensac Castelnau Montagnac Le Pouget Gignac Ville-Magne Loupian and Meâe the Mesua of Pomponius Mela tho the Island he speaks of seems rather to be Lates Lodeve seated between Mountains near the meeting of the Rivers Solondre and Lergue not far from the Cevennes and the Borders of Roâârgue and Gevaudan lies almost 9 Leagues North of Pesenas and 13 of Agde It s antient name in Latin is Forum-Neronis and then Leuâeva both known to Pliny and its Bishop kept already the 4th or 5th rank among the Suffragans of Narbonne at the beginning of the 5th Century Lodeve is not now very big for it has suffer'd several devastations during the Wars of the Goths then of the Albigeois and lastly during the Civil Wars between the Prâtestants ââd Roman Catholicks and the Duke of Montmorency took it in 1585. This Town had formerly the Title of a Viscounty which one of its Prelates Raimond Guilhen Brother to the Lord of Montpellier bought off from Viscount Geldin whence it comes that the Bishops of Lodeve are Lords of it appoint the Magistrates and take the Title of Counts of Montbrun a Castle near it And 't is asserted that 800 Noblemen depended on and made homage of their Lands to this Prelate who on this account was Sirnam'd the Noble Bernard Gui and John Plantavit de la Pause Bishops of Lodeve have published Chronicles of their Church Denis Briconnet and Francis Bosquet are likewise in the number of Authors The Diocese of Lodeve comprehends besides the Towns or Burroughs of Las Ribbes S. Michel Ganges Brisac S. Jean de Buege S. Guillem ley Desert with a famous Abby of Benedictins founded by one of the Ancestors of the Princes of Orange Mont-Peyroux S. Jean de Foz S. André Clermont de Lodeve and Canet Of the Precinct of Nismes THis Precinct is not near so great as the ancient Territories of the Volcae Arecomici who extended themselves through the Dioceses of Montpellier Nismes Vzès and Lodeve enjoyed the Town of Pezenas and even some Lands beyond the Rhone Now it is restrained within the Episcopal Jurisdiction of Montpellier and Nismes and has the district of Beziers on the West Gevaudan and Vivarais on the North and North-East the Rhone on the East and the Sea on the South It s greatest length from Frontignan on the Pond of Maguelonne to the source of the Eraut is 17 Leagues North and South and its greatest breadth from Beaucaire on the Rhone to Anagne on the Eraut 22 Leagues East and West but in some places it is so very tarrow that it has hardly 4 or 5 Leagues Montpellier 3 Leagues South of the Sea 13 East of Pesenas and 14 North-East of Agde is call'd in Latin Mons-pessulus Mons-pessulanus Mons-peslerius and Mons-puellaris but every one may see that these are not old Latin names and likewise this Town is hardly known in History since 600 years though it be now the biggest and richest in Languedoc after Toulouse It is seated upon a Hill whose foot is wash'd by the small River Lez which receives there another Rivulet called Merdanson after it has serv'd to the uses of the Town The original of Montpellier is related thus There was formerly a strong and considerable City call'd Maguelonne Magalo in a Gulph nam'd by Pliny Laterna and by the French l'Etang du Tau de Lates or de Perraut The foundation of Maguelonne is uncertain for tho the Coast of Lower Languedoc has been sometime in the power of the Marseillois and Stephanus mentions Alonis as an Island belonging to them whose Inhabitants were call'd Alonites yet having no other testimony a small and far fetched resemblance of names can scarce prove them to be one and the same However it be sure it is that Maguelonne was an Episcopal City in the 5th and 6th Centuries and a famous Sea-port too which was the cause of its ruin For after the Saracens had conquered Spain they spread themselves in Lower Languedoc in 730 and threatned the whole Kingdom of France with a Barbarian Invasion when they were utterly routed by Charles Martel near Tours As this great Captain had observ'd that they commonly landed at Maguelonne when it had retaken this Town in 736 he raz'd it to the very ground and transferred the Episcopal See to Soustancion Sextatio almost a Mile East of Montpellier Soustancion is mention'd in the Geographical Tables of the Emperor Theodose and in the Travels of Aethicus but the Inhabitants finding the Situation of the place where now Montpellier lies more convenient and the Air sweeter began to build there Thus the new Village increas'd by degrees during 300 Years that the B. of Maguelonne kept their Seat at Soustancion But in 1060 Arnauld Julian one of these Prelates rais'd up the Walls of Maguelânne fortify'd them with Towers and the Haven where the Saracens us'd to land being stop'd built another in a more convenient place Before this the Governour of Maguelonne had retir'd to a place call'd now Mauguio where he built a Castle under the name of Melgueil and having usurp'd the Sovereignty of his Government during the troubles of the French Monarchy he took upon him the Title of Count of Melgueil and Soustancion and coyn'd a kind of small Money call'd the Melgoris pence The Estates of these Counts pass'd in 1172 into the House of Toulouse by the Marriage of Ermessende their Heiress with Raymond VI. Sirnamed the Old and was confiscated upon his Son by Pope Innocent III. and the Council of Latran in 1215. In the mean while Montpellier increas'd apace for it appears by a passage of S. Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux that there was already a School or Seminary of Physicians in 1155 and in 1156 we find mention of its Baths which were farm'd by the Lords of that Town as being of a considerable Revenue However the first Institution of its University is commonly ascrib'd to the Disciples of Averroes aâd Avicenne in 1196 and its perfect establishment is said to have been made but in 1220. About this time the Lords of Montpellier were in great esteem This Lordship was first detached from the Patrimony of the Counts of Melgueil to be the Portion of Eustorgia a Daughter of that House She had a Son call'd Fulcran who became Bishop of Lodeve and two Daughters who bequeathed their Estates to the Church of Maguelonne in 975. These Prelates sold Montpellier to a Gentleman nam'd Gui on condition that he should keep it as a Fee of the Church and defend it against the Saracens The French Kings and the succeeding Bishops of Maguelonne
confirm'd this gift or sale so that Montpellier remain'd to his Posterity who because of the increase of their Town and the consideration it came to be in allied themselves with very illustrious Houses as the Kings of Jerusalem and of Aragon the Dukes of Burgundy and the Counts of Foix and became at last Kings of Majorca But this small Kingdom was the ruine of their Patrimonial Estate for James III. King of Majorca and Lord of Montpellier having been depriv'd of his Realm by Peter of Arragon his Brother in Law was compell'd by want and misery to sell his Lordship to the French King Philip of Valois in 1349. Physick has the precedency in the University of Montpellier yet both parts of the Law are taught in one of its Colleges by four Royal Professors with power of making Licentiates and Doctors There are besides a generality of the King's Treasurers a Court of Aides a Chamber of Accounts a Mint and a Presidial-seat Montpellier was one of the Towns of security which Henry IV. had granted to the Protâstants but Lewis XIII designing the ruin of this part of his Subjects forc'd them by Arms to surrender this pledge of his protection and took this City after a long Siege and a vigorous defence in the Month of October 1622. Then it was that the Roman Catholicks got again into their hands the Cathedral of S. Peter for the Bishoprick of Maguelonne had been transferred thither in 1536 with the consent of Pope Paul III. Soustancion being now but a ruin'd Village However they were still fewer in number and have been so till this last Persecution Montpellier is govern'd by six Consuls or Sheriffs who are also Viguiers or Baylies of the Town and have a great attendance The Merchants have likewise their Consuls under the came of Consuls of the Sea to distinguish 'em from the Sheriffs call'd Consuls Majours There is a particular Court for Debts whose Judge sirnamed of the little Seal has jurisdiction over them who submit to him by contract Besides the University the Churches and the Palace of the Justice there are other Buildings worthy to be taken notice of as the Royal College for Humane Learning the Cittadel rais'd since the taking of Montpellier from the Protestants and flank'd with four Bastions two within and two without the Town Near to its Wall is the Royal Garden of Simpâes extraordinary well kept and furnished The Ceremonies us'd in taking the degree of Doctor in Physick is worth seeing were it only for their putting seven times on and off the Back of the new Doctor the old Gown of Rabelais The Confection of Alkermès is likewise made in a solemn manner before the Magistrate and one of the Professors of Physick Their Triacle is in as great esteem as that of Venice and their Powders of Cypre Queen of Hungary's Waters Essences and Scent-waters are vended through alâ Europe The Inhabitants of Montpellier are also famous for making Verdegreese whitening Wax working upon Silk with Mills and severaâ other Manufactures Add to this that theiâ Soyl is one of the best and the Air one of the wholsomest in France Lates mention'd by Pomponius Mela undeâ the name of Castellum Latara and by more modern Authors under those of Castrum de Latis and Castrum de Palude is seated in an Island made by the Mouth of the Lez Ledum which discharges it self into a great Pond call'd by Pliny Laterna and by Mela Stagnum Volcarum This Island lies but a Mile South of Montpellier and is reck'ned its Haven A League more Westwards on the Mouth of the Caulazon lies the Town of Ville-neuve over against Magueloune and 4 Leagues South-West upon the same Lake or Pond of Lates the Town of Frontignan so famous for its Muscadine Wines De Valois takes it for the Forum Domitii of the Antients so called from Cn. Domitius Aenobarly who having vanquished the Allobroges and Auvergnats was carry'd in triumph upon an Elephant through the whole Province Three Miles North-West you meet with the small Town of Balaruc renown'd for its Bathes Lunel Lunate 5 Leagues East of Montpellier gives its Name to a Bridge upon the Vidourle over against the Town It has a Monastery under the Name of S. Peter but is more renown'd for being the Birth-place of a Learned Jew Rabbi Salomon who took from thence the Sirname of Jarchi The other places of this Diocese are Montferrand Murvieil Pignan Fabregues Sanson mentions a great many other but he marks them all for Villages NISMES Nemausus Volcarum Arecomicorum lies seven Leagues North-East of Arles and ten and a half North-West of Montpellier in a fertil Plain overshadowed with Fruit-trees and at the foot of Hills cover'd with Vineyards It 's a very ancient City though the time of its foundation be uncertain Stephanus and Suidas after him ascribe it to one Nemausus of Hercules's posterity whence Du Chesne infers that it is a Greek Colony of the Marseillois but as there have been many Hero's of that name and that the Descendants of the Greek Hercules have been long in repute this does not precisely determine the time of its first Building De Valois derives it from a Fountain springing hereabouts which Ausonius calls Nemausus but it will still be doubtful whether the City has given its name to the Fountain or the Fountain to the City and whence both have got this appellation It will be more useful and diverting to consider the rise and various fortunes of Nismes and withal the precious remains of its Antiquities It owes its first increase to a Colony of Roman Soldiers who return'd with August from the Conquest of Egypt as appears by an ancient Inscription which this City has taken for its Arms COL NEM Colonia Nemausensis the Colony of Nismes Before that Julius Caesar had put a Garrison in this Town to defend it against the incursions of those of Reuergue and Querci The Volcae Arecomici were already one of the most powerful Nations of the Gauls in the time of Hannibal according to Livy and under the Empire of August and Tibere Strabo * L. 21. L. 4. testifies that Nismes was the Metropolis of the Volcae Arecomici and that tho it was not to be compar'd to Narbonne as to the number of Strangers and Merchants yet it exceeded this Capital of the Province as to the State of its Government for it had 24 Villages or Commonalties ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã under it inhabited by considerable Persons ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã who enjoy'd the privileges of the Latins so that one might find at Nismes Rom. Citizens who had discharged the Offices of Edile or City Surveyor ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and of Quaestor or Treasurer ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã And therefore this Plantation did not answer before the Tribunal of the Governors that were sent thither from Rome But though they were so favoured by the Senate and Emperors a particular hatred they had against Tiberius â Suetonius made 'em throw
call'd in his Diocese by his Metropolitan in 886 and the old Notices of the Gauls name Nismes but in the 4th or 5th place among the 8 Suffragans of Narbonne so that the erection of this Bishoprick seems not to have preceded the 4th or 5th Age. Four Leagues North-East of Nismes lies the Village of St. Privat renown'd for a most pleasant House belonging to a Gentleman who bears the name of it and adorn'd with delicious Gardens Fountains Grotto's Water-spouts Alleys Green-closets and the like Over against it are the remains of the famous Pont du Gard one of the Master-pieces of the Romans It was intended to conduct the Waters of the Mountains of Remoulins to those of Ledenon and thence into Nismes for the uses of that City but especially to represent Sea-fights in its Amphitheatre It may be too that the course of the River Gard or Gardon which now runs under these Bridges was turn'd off thorough a Channel that is yet partly in being has six Foot in heigth three in breadth and is covered with large Stones But more of it in the Diocese of Vzès Four Leagues South of Pont du Gard and as many East of Nismes lies the Town of Beaucaire Belliquadrum or Bellum quadrum that is fine Square undoubtedly so call'd from its Square form and pleasant Situation for it s seated upon the Rhone next to the small Island Valabregue and over against Tarascon in Provence from which it's only separated by the River It is the Seat of a Seneschal but is much more renown'd for its Fair on the 22. of July or S. Magdalen's day whether come Merchants from most parts of the World even from Asia and Africa This Town belonged formerly to the Counts of Provence but Raimond Berenger I. yielded it to Alphonse Jourdain Count of Toulouse September 16. 1125. The Papists took it during the Wars of the Albigeois but the Inhabitants revolted from them to Raimond the Young their lawful Master In 1251 Charles of France Count of Provence holding a conference at Beaucaire with his Brother Alphonse Count of Toulouse the Citizens of Avignon forc'd them to take the Oath of Allegiance to their Government After Alphonse's death Beaucaire return'd to the French Crown with the other Estates of those Counts In 1561 the Protestants took this Town and put Garrison in it under one Hardwin of Porcelles and the Roman Catholicks having retaken it they were expell'd the same day with the loss of 1200 Men. Beaucaire had then a Castle upon the Rock on the Rivers side which has been since demolish'd in 1632 on occasion of new Civil Wars Three Miles South-West of Beaucaire lies betwixt Mountains the Town of Belle-garde and 3 Miles South-East of Belle-garde the Village of Fourques Furcae so called because the Rhone divides here it self into three branches much like to a Fork 4 Leagues South-West of Beaucaire and above two West of Fourques lies upon a Rivulet the small Town of S. Gilles Sti. Aegidii Fanum It has its name from an Anachoret who retir'd thither in the 6th Century and a famous Abby that was built there under his name which has been since given to secular Priests It 's said that the Gottish Kings had there a Palace and that this Town is to be understood by the name of Palatium Gothorum which is found in the Authors of those times At least it is sure that the Counts of Toulouse took the Title of Counts of S. Gilles and that sometimes the whole Province was understood by that name This Town belongs now to the Knights of Malta under the Title of great Priory and it was near it that the Protestants got a signal Victory over the Roman Catholicks headed by the Count of Somme-rive in 1562. In a Neighbouring Forrest call'd Estagel is a Chair of Stone which is thought to have serv'd the Druides who us'd to render justice or to pronounce their Oracles in the Woods Four Leagues East of S. Gilles lies upon the Vistre the Town of Aâmargues Armasanicae to which Vauvert Vallis viridis Le Cayla and Aigues-mortes are resorting This last situated betwixt the Pond of Maguelonne and the Western Mouth of the Rhone has been a famous Sea-port where the French Kings us'd to imbark when they went to the Holy Land but the Haven has been stopp'd by the Sands and the Town lies now two or three Miles from the Sea The Pond Laterna and the Rhone have communication together by a Channel upon which this Town is seated and which because of the little motion of its Water has given it the name of Aigues-mortes Aquae-mortuae Before one enters into it it meets with a Tower call'd la Tour Carbonniere that was taken by the Protestants in 1562. The Town is of a square figure surrounded with good Walls and 16 strong Towers among which that of Constance is the most considerable as having a Phare or Beacon to direct the course of the Ships Three Miles Westwards upon the Western Mouth of the Rhone lies the Fort of Pecais built to defend the Salt-pits which are here so abundant that they suffice to furnish with it not only Languedoc and the Neighbouring Provinces but even Foreign Countries if we believe Du Verdier so that all the other Salt-pits excepting those of Peyriac and Sigean in the Diocese of Narbonne have been spoiled and drowned not to make Salt too common Marsiliargues is a little fine Town 5 Miles South of Aigues-mortes and 2 North-West of Lunel that has the Title of a Viguery Higher up you meet with Gaillargues Aubais Aigues-vives Cauvisson Sommieres upon the Vidourle Sumerium a Viguery Ville-vieille Clarensac Cour-Couronne Quessas Sauve Salvia a Viguery Pompignan Ledignan Cassagnolle Anduse Andusia another Viguery upon the Southern branch of the Gardon 21 Miles North of Montpellier and 17 North-West of Nismes was formerly a strong Town and one of them who declar'd for the Protestants under the D. of Rohan but Lewis XIII having taken it caus'd its Walls to be demolish'd St. Hippolite lies betwixt Mountains near the source of the Vidourle 5 Miles East of Anduse and though it be none of the biggest yet its Inhabitants had of late years the courage to Preach upon the ruins of their Temple thinking that their example would be follow'd by their Neighbours but they found themselves mistaken and expos'd almost alone to the French King's rage who caus'd the most part to be murthered or sent to the Gallies Alais Alestum upon the Northern Branch of the Gardon three Leagues North-East of Anduse follow'd the same fate submitting to Lewis XIII after the taking of Privas in 1629. It has the Title of a County and formerly belong'd to the Counts of Melgueil now Mauguio issued from the Viscounts of Narbonne The Diocese of Nismes extends it self still more North-West to Mount Lesperou in the Cevennes and contains besides the Towns or Burroughs of Vezenobre Toirax Monsargues La Sale Sumere S. Romans Mondarchier Le Vigan Vicanum a
and Prince of Donzere and Chateauââf Annonay Annonaeum a Marquisate upon the âall River Deume lies 3 Leagues West of the Rome and almost 19 North of Viviers in a very fruitful Soyl. It 's the Capital of Upper VIVARAIS and the Seat of a Bayliwick Some pretend that it was formerly a Store-house of âhe Roman Armies Most of the Inhabitants âmbraced the Reformation in the last Age so âhat it remain'd under the Protestants during âhe Civil Wars notwithstanding the attempts âhe Leaguers made against it in 1562 and 1563. Tournon Turno Castrum because it was formerly but a Castle seated on a neighbouring Hill lies upon the Rhone over against Thain iâ Dauphine has the Title of a County and has given name to an Illustrious Family that has produc'd several Cardinals and many Prelates It 's one of the ancientest Baronies in that Country but is grown more famous and flourishing of late by a College of Jesuits that draws thiâher great numbers of Scholars It was Founded by Francis Cardinal of Tournon Archbishop of Lyons under Charles IX This Town has besides a Collegiate Church and several Monasteries and the County extends its Jurisdiction over 72 Parishes Aubenas Albenacum is an indifferent gooâ Town upon the steep of a Mountain wash'd bâ the River Ardesche almost 8 Leagues North West of Viviers Most of the Inhabitants werâ Reform'd Villeneuve de Berg lies near thâ source of the Rivulet Hibie 11 Miles West oâ Viviers But though it be the Capital of thâ little Country of Les Botieres yet 't is only coâsiderable for its being the Seat of an inferioâ Judge or Baily The other places of some note are Serriereâ Andance Chasteaubourg Cornaz Crussol a Couâty Soyons a principality belonging to the Bishoâ of Valence in Dauphiné Charmes Beau-Chasteâ La Voulte Poussin Bays sur Bays Meisse Roche Maurette Le Teil Le Bourg St. Andiol all seaâed along the Rhone from North to South I the middle of the Country or near the Mountains you find upon the River Beaune Joyeusâ a Dutchy and Peerdom erected by Henry IIâ in 1581 I. ' Argentiere near the small Country oâ Borne Vauguel Mirabel S. Laurent Boulogââ l'Estrange Meyras Montpezat Rioutort neaâ the Borders of Velay 3 Leagues down the sourcâ of the Loire where that River is yet so narrow that a Lady having leap'd it over by putting foot on a Silver Plate she laid in the middle oâ the Channel made the Italians believe she haâ past over the Loire on a Silver-bridge The you meet with Pierre-ville Chalençon Le Cheâlars S. Agreve c. Of the Diocese of Uzès THis Diocese is included betwixt the Rivers Ardesche Rhone and Garden and the âountains Cevennes having the County Venaisâ the Principality of Orange and the Tricaââis to the East Vivarais to the North and ââvaudan with the Diocese of Nismes to the West and South-West It s length and breadth âe almost equal being about 12 or 14 Leagues ât drawing a diagonal North-West and South-âast from Villefort near the Source of the Arââhe on the Borders of Gevaudan to Monfrain ãâã the Gardon near its fall into the Rhone the âreguoiâ reaches above 18 Leagues VZES Vindomagus Volcarum Arecomicorum âd in latter Ages Vcetia or Castrum Vâeciense ãâã near the Spring of the small River Aysene âuch after a course of 5 or 6 Miles diâcharges â self into the Gardon Magus is an old Gauâ word that signifies Habitation and because is oft chang'd into r and V into G as Caââelus for Carantonus la Charante so Vindo âây have been said for Virdo or Vardo the Garâ In the ancient Notices of the Gauls this ââthedral Church is put in the last place or ãâã one before the last but since the erection ãâã the new Bishopricks S. Pons de Tomiere's and Alet it is the 7th in order VZES had â first the Title of a Barony then it was erecteâ into a Dutchy and at last into a Dutchy aââ Peerdom in 1572 for Antony of Crussol Bâsides this the Bishop is Count of the Town anâ the King is also Conseigneur or Lord Partner anâ has his Seat of Justice and his Viguier or Bayly so that the King the Bishop and the Duke havâ each their Castle and their Jurisdiction whicâ oft causes many disputes VZES is pretty biâ rich and trading because of the Manufactory Cloaths the Serges of VZES being renown throughout all the Kingdom Most of the Iâhabitants had embrac'd the Reformation foâlowing the example of their Bishop John of Gelais who turn'd Protestant with all his Chaâter and âent for Ministers to Geneva in the laââ age and there has been still a considerable Râform'd Church even till these latter times Thâ City lies 4 Leagues of Languedoc or eleven Eâglish Miles South of Nismes and almost 8 coâmon Leagues of France North-West of Avânon Five Miles South-East of VZES upon tââ River Gardon is to be seen the most sumptuoââ remainder of Roman Antiquities that is extaââ perhaps in all the World It 's called Pont Guard pons Vardonis and consists of three Briâges built upon one another The undermââ has 6 Arches and is the common road of Mâ and Beasts the middlemost has eleven Aâches and the uppermost 30 the whole reacâing to the height of 82 Foot Under these Briâges is a Canal 6 Foot deep and 3 broad câver'd with large Stones through which tâ Water of the Gardon was made to pass and to âcend to the highest of those Bridges whence â through an Aqueduct it was brought into ââsmes to serve for their Arens Mills and other ãâã For Nismes being not seated on the bank ãâã a River and having but a small Fountain as âs been observ'd in its proper place wants Water the most part of the Summer These âridges tho not so entire as to be of use are âll however a glorious Monument of the Roman âââandure On the North-East above 9 Leagues from âZES lies Pânt S. Esprit a pretty strong âown and an important passage upon the Rhone Wherefore it has a Cittadel and a parââcular Governor The Town has its name ârom a Bridge that is a curious piece of Workâanship being under-propt by 22 Arches 1206 ârench Toises or 7236 Foot long and 90 Foot âord The other places of note in this Diocese are ââamon Ville-neuve-lez-Avignon S. André Rocââemaure Condoules all upon the Rhone from South to North. Villefort and Chamhonas upon âhe Chassezat Salavas and Ayguese upon the ââdesche S. Ambroise Monclus Cornillon Bagnols âpon the Ceze Les Vens Bane Bezas Bargeac âagnas La Bastide de Virac betwixt those two Rivers Genouillas and Chambourigaud near the ââvennes Couvillargues and Lodun upon the ââve Lussan betwixt the Ceze and Tave Blanâu near the Gardon St. Laurens des Aubres near the Rhone c. Of GEVAUDAN THis Mountainous Country is separated from Velay and Vivarais by the Allier to thâ East to the North it has Upper Auvergne tâ the West Rouergue and to the South the Diocese of
Nismes reaching 22 Leagues North and South from beyond Sialgues to Val Francesqueâ and 18 East and West from Lambrusche to Sâ Laurens de Revidol It 's the habitation of thâ ancient Gabales or Gabali who were subjecâ to the Auvergnats Though this Country lies betwixt 43 Degâ 40 M. of Latitude yet the Mountains are cover'd with Snow all the Winter but the Plains named Lower GEVAUDAN are indifferent fruitful The Inhabitants of the Mountains call'd Vpper GEVAUDAN or GIVAUDAN as welâ as their Neighbours of Vpper Vivarais Vpper Velay and Vpper Limosin use to go into Spain every year before the beginning of the Winter where they suffer themselves to be employ'd in the vilest Services to get their livelyhood Wherefore the Spaniards use to call Gavaches from Gavali poor dirty low-spirited Fellows Pepin Head of the second race of the French Kings Conquer'd this Country from Gaifer Duke of Aquitain In the IX Century the Governors of GEVAUDAN usurp'd the Soveraignty of it ârder the name of Counts It fell afterwards to the share of the House of Rouergue then to the Counts of Toulouse and with their other Estates was re-united to the French Crown in 1271. It was for the most part in the power of the Protestants during the Civil Wars Mende Memmas Memmate or Mimmate is ââted at the foot of a Mountain hard by the River Lot Olita 26 Leagues East of Viviers and almost 20 East of Rodez Mende is an indiffeâent good Town but is of no long standing for ââs Original is related thus (a) Gregor Turon L. 1. c. 32. In the third Cenââry under the Empire of Valerian and Gallien âhe Alamanni a German Nation made an irruâtion into the Gauls and overflow'd like a Torââât most of the Southern Provinces of France ââder their King Crocus They took plunder'd ând ruin'd the City of the Gabales or Gevauâan which is now but a poor Village call'd ââavaux or Javoux a word nearer to the Laâia Gabali than the very name of GEVAUDAN Those that could make their escape reââd into the Fortress of Gredo now Greze ââted amongst Mountains 3 Leagues South ãâã Javaux and almost four West of Mende ãâã the Bishop S. Privat fled into the Caverns ãâã Memmate or Mende whether the Germans âââlow'd and kill'd him with blows The Holy ââelate was interr'd in the neighbouring Vilââge that bore the name of the Cavern and ãâã veneration People had for his memory increas'd it by degrees to a considerable place However it does not appear that the Episcopal Seat was transferr'd thither immediately after for until the middle of the 10th Century the Bishops of GEVAUDAN are call'd by no other name but Gabalitani Episcopi or Episcopi Civitatis Gabalum or Gabalorum neither was Javaux ever rebuilt so that I am apt to believe that two neighbouring Towns Marenge or Marveiois two Leagues South and Mende eleven Miles South-West of Javaux increas'd by itâ ruins though the City of the Gabales still obtain'd the seventh rank among the 8 Episcopaâ Sees of the first Aquitain but that the Prelates of GEVAUDAN fix'd at last their Seat at Mende great numbers of People resorting thitheâ by reason of the Sepulchre of S. Privat The Bishop of Mende has a fine Palace there he intitules himself Count of the Country by virtue of an Agreement made with the French King Philip the Fair in 1306. He also pretendâ to be Lord Partner of the Town with the King and to have right of coyning Money The other places of some consideration in thiâ Country are Sialgues S. Lazier de Malzion Serverette Chanac La Canourgue S. Chely dâ Tarn S. Eremie Quessas where during the Civiâ Wars the Protestants made a Booty of Relickâ valued to 280 Marks Espagnac Bagnols Barres des Cevennes known by its fairs and Montwert Chateau neuf de Randon is only a Village but famous by the death of that brave Warrior Bertrand du Guesclin Lord High Constable oâ France There are besides 8 Lordships thaâ give the Title of Barons to those Lords that assist by turns at the General States of Languedoc and âeside at the particular of GEVAUDAN viz. âârceaur Canillac Apcher Peyre Senaret Tourââ Randon and Florac Of VELAY VELAY Vellavus Pagus is included betwixt Vivarais on the East and South East Gevaudan on the West and South West Auvergne on the North West and Foretz on the North reaching 18 Leagues North and South from Aurech in Foretz to Jonchieres on the Borders of Gevaudan and above 16 East and West from Claâas to Prades in its greatest length and breadth The Mountains of Meziâes Pertuis and Meigal which are cover'd with Woods and run across the Country from North West to South East divide it into Velay on this side and Velay on that side the Woods The Inhabitants are call'd by ancient Authors Vellavi Vallavi and Velauni and in Caesar's time were Tributaries to the Auvergnats wherefore their Capital is named indifferently Podium Avernorum and Podium Vellavorum le Fay en Auvergne and le Puy en Velay Le Puy so call'd from the Mountain on which it 's seated Puy in old Gaulish signifying a Hill lies 16 Leagues South West of Annonay and almost 14 North East of Mende It seems not to have been always the Capital of Velay for Ptolomy names it Rovesio and the Maps of the Emperor Theodosius publish'd by the Brothers Peutingers Revessio which is taken by some modern Authors for S. Paulian a small Town two Leagues off Languedoc North North West of Le Puy whence say they S. Evodius or as the vulgar call him S. Vosy translated the Episcopal See to Mont-Anis Montem Anicium whereupon Le Puy has been since built And accordingly Gregory of Yours (a) L. x. c. 25. speaks of the City of the Velauni and of Anicium as of two different places However the time of this Translation is uncertain and seems not to have preceded the sixth or seventh Century for 't is only since that time that the Volains are call'd indifferently Velauni and Puates or Buates Le Puy is now the biggest City in Languedoc after Toulouse to whose Parliament its Bayliwick and Presidial-seat resort The Bishop intitles himself Count of Velay pretends to the Right of Fallium to be free from the Jurisdiction of his Metropolitan the Archbishop of Bourges and to be immediately Suffragan to the Pope He boasts to have in his Cathedral dedicated to our Lady the Praeputium (b) Du Chesne of our Saviour or that Flesh that was cut off when he was circumcis'd together with the mitre of Aaron the first High-priest of the Jews and such fine Relicks cannot fail of producing strange wonders and drawing great numbers of People in order to present them with Oblations which is the principal aim The Chapter is made up of a Dean a Provost a Singer a Treasurer a Sexton the Abbot of S. Peter the Abbot of S. Evodius and 24 Prebendaries The other places worth taking notice of are Montfaucon
the Viguier for this Diocese It lies at the foot of a Mountain on the North side of the Var Colmars upon the Verdon Annot upon the Vaine these three are accounted Towns the others are but Burroughs or good Villages viz. Toramenes Le Poget La Pene c. Of the Diocese of SISTERON THis Diocese seems to have had no particular Inhabitants but to have made part of the Country of the Cavares however it be it borders on the Bishoprick of Digne to the East on Gapencois and the Baronnies to the North on the County Venaissin to the West and on the Dioceses of Apt and Riez to the South The City of Sisteron Secustero or perhaps Acusio Colonia lies extended in length upon the confluence of the Buech and Durance with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Aix in the Upper Province it has a Bayliwick a small Cittadel and a Castle The most considerable places are Forcalquier Forum Calcarium or Fons Calcarius This Town was the Portion of the youngest Sons of the Counts of Provence It has a good Cittadel a Viguier and several Privileges The French King is call'd in the publick Acts issued from the Parliament of Aix Count of Provence and Forcalquier Manosque is another pretty Town lying on the Durance 11 Leagues South of Sisteron and belonging to the Knights of Maltha The other are but Burroughs or Villages as Rosset Castelet Puy-michel Orezon La Brelhane Luiz les Meez Peyruis Montfort was formerly a Barony belonging to the Counts of Provence and had then a very strong Castle but it has been demolished and the place is now an inconsiderable Village However its Territory is still very large and it has a Forest of 6 Leagues in circuit depending on it and call'd La Combe de S. Donat. In the Viguery of Forcalquier are S. Michel Manne Simiane c. Of the Diocese of APT IT was anciently inhabited by the Vulgientes and is now included betwixt the Viguery of Forcalquier the County Venaissin and the Archbishoprick of Aix The City of APT Apta Julia Vulgientium is a little Town on the River of Calevon with a Bishoprick Suffragan of Aix and a Bayliwick It is very ancient for it was one of the biggest and most famous Towns of the Celtes and the chief of the Vulgientians under the Romans Julius Caesar or rather some of his Successors liked it so well that he encreas d it made it a Roman Colony and gave it the name of the Conqueror of the Gauls The Bishop of APT is the first Suffragan of Aix and its first Prelate is S. Auspicius a Martyr The Bishops of this City call themselves Princes of APT and had heretofore the privilege of coyning Money There is to be seen a vast Treasure of Relicks especially of S. Auspicius and S. Mark the Abbot in the Cathedral of S. Anne And of Count Eleazar of S. Delphine his Wife both Virgins and of S. Margaret their Maid-servant in the Church of the Franciscans Saut is an ancient County near the source of the River Sorgues belonging to the Dukes of Lesdiguieres The other places are Lambez S. Savornin Gordes Reilhane Beaumont Mirabeau Tour d'Aygues a strong hold with one of the finest Houses in the Province Lourmarin Merindol Menerbe Aupede and Cabrieres were good Burroughs whilst inhabited by the Vaudois but since their barbarous Murther they are but inconsiderable places I shall give here a more faithful account of it than that partial Scribler Morery who says enough however to make appear the unheard Cruelties of the Roman Church It must bâ observed before all that time out of mind the Lords of France were not properly Subjects but only Vassals to the King and Sovereigns under him and that their Fees Castles Mannors could not be ransack'd or pull'd down nor their Subjects abused or kill'd unless it were for Crime of High Treason Now the places of Merindol Cabrireres La Coste c. whether the Vaudois resorted belong'd to a Lord who protected them and all the Crimes they were found guilty of was to profess the same Religion that was persecuted in other Parts of France and to give retreat to such as escaped the bloody Hands of their Murderers The French King Francis the I. prevailed upon by the Monks gave out a severe Edict against all the Protestants in 1535 and the Parliament of Aix condemned to be burned 19 Inhabitants of Merindol and the neighbouring places most of whom were Ministers but the first President Chassanée a learned Lawyer superseded the Execution of it He was suceeded by a most cruel Man John Meynier Baron of Oppede or Auppede who making use of the absence of the King's Lieutenant the Count of Grignan put himself at the head of the Troops that were in that Province accompanied by a Capt. called the Baron of La Garde the second President two Counsellors and William Guerin Advocate General of that Parliament Thus they went on to Merindol and were reinforced in their way by the Troops of the Pope's Legate from Avignon The poor Vaudois retired into Woods and Mountains so that the Persecutor's Army found nothing in their Villages and Buroughs but old and sick Men Women and Children however they had the Barbarity of Murdering every one of them and burning and razing all their Habitations nay even of hanging 30 of them who had surrendred themselves upon Terms Maimburg confesses that there were 3000 murdered 600 sent to the Gallies 24 Villages and 900 Houses burnt but others make it amount to a far greater number This hapned in 1546 when Francis the first had Notice of it he was sensible of the injustice they had done saying that they had made use of his Name to destroy the most honest Men in his Kingdom and therefore ordered at his Death which happened some Months after to his Son and Successor Henry the Second that he should not leave those Barbarities unpunished Accordingly this Prince immediately after his coming to the Crown named Commissaries to judge of this Affair but the Mony and power of the Clergy stopped their Mouths so that the King was forced to remove the Suit before the Parliament of Paris by his Patents of 1551. Then the Persecutors not being able to avoid Justice any longer threw the hatred of all this horrid and unlawful Executions upon some Soldiers who were dead or whom they had caused to make their escape and upon the Advocate General Guerin who was beheaded in the place of Greve As to the Baron of Oppede tho his Credit sav'd him from the hands of Humane Justice yet it could not deliver him from the hands of God who called him before his Tribunal in 1558 by the most painful Death that ever was as you may see in Thuanus Dupleix and other Roman Catholick Historians Of the County Venaissin THE County Venaissin that is now a dependency of the Papal See borders on Provence to the East on Dauphiné to the North on the Durance to the South
and on Languedoc to the West It is about 13 or 14 Leagues from South to North and from West to East it is the first of the Pope's Legateships a fruitful and pleasant Country there are an Archbishoprick 3 Bishopricks 4 Baronies and 78 Towns Burroughs or Villages In the Romans time it was inhabited by the Cavares and Memini since it pass'd under the French and from them to the Marquesses and the Counts of Provence In 1228 the Estates of Raimond Count of Toulouse having been seiz'd from him because of his protecting the Albigeois it was agreed amongst the Usurpers that the Lands which Raimond had possest on the East of the Rhone should be settled in trust only for a time to Gregory IX as appears by the Letters of this Pope to the French K. Lewis IX and Queen Blanche his Mother in 1230 and 1233. It s modern name Venaissin comes from Venatione because of the vast quantity of Game that is in this Country Avignon and its Territory made up a separate Dominion which still belong'd to the Counts of Provence but in 1348 Jane Queen of Naples and Sicily Countess of Provence sold this City with its Suburbs and Territory for the Summ of 80000 Golden Florens that is 48000 French Livres to Pope Clement VI. and lest it should be said that this summ came not near the value of so considerable a City it was inserted in the Agreement that the Queen made a free gift of the over-plus to the Pope Hereupon the French Historians observe 1. That this Princess being born in 1328. was not yet out of Age no more than her second Husband Lewis of Tarante 2dly That the sale was made without the consent of the Guardians given her by K. Robert her Grandfather when he instituted her his Universal Heir against his express will 3. That some years after the same Pope to hinder Queen Jane of selling others of her Countries gave out a Bull declaring void all the alienations made or to be made by the said Queen both in the Kingdom of Naples and in the County of Provence against the will of the said K. Robert her Grandfather 4thly That in 1365 Queen Jane declar'd void the sale of Avignon and all the others she had made to that very time These are the Chief reasons on which the French Kings ground their pretensions over Avignon and County Venaissin and for which they never fail of seizing upon this City and County as soon as they are at variance with the Court of Rome as did Lewis XIV in 1663. and 1688. I leave the Reader to judge of them as he may do very impartially since they are both our Enemies only with this difference that the one viz. the Pope is irreconcilable to us as long as we are Protestants whereas within some years we may be at peace with the other The City of AVIGNON Avenio Cavarum is upon the Rhone 8 Leagues North of Arles almost as many South East of Vzès and 10 North East of Nismes with an University and an Archbishoprick only since the year 1475. under Sixtus V. It was before that time a Bishoprick Suffragan of Arles Pope Clement IV. removed the Pontifical See to Avignon in 1305. Clement VI. bought that City 37 years after his Successors lived there quietly till the year 1380. as also during the Schism that is to the Council of Pise in 1409. It has a Court of Inquisition a Mint where Money is coyned with the Pope's Arms its Walls are fine its Churches magnificent its Avenues pleasant The justice is administred by the Consuls and their Assessor who is the Judge of the City the Viguier who is like the Provost of Merchants in Paris or the Lord Mayor in London judges without farther appeal all Causes and Suits not exceeding four gold Duckets but in other Causes one may appeal to the Vice-Legate who commits the matter to the Rote which consists of five Auditors and from thence one may still appeal to Rome All the Canons of the Cathedral Church of our Blessed Lady are clothed in Red and the Chaplains in Purple seven Popes have seated there during 70 years from 1307. till 1377. viz. Clement V. John XXII Benedict XII Clement VI. Innocent VI. Vrban V. and Gregory XI who by the persuasion of St. Catherine of Sienne remov'd to Rome again together with three Antipopes Clement VII Boniface IX and Benedict XIII from 1378 till 1409. This is called by the Italians The Babylonian Captivity of the Church And well may they compare their Church to Babylon for 't is as like to the Mystical Babylon of the Revelation as two drops of Water are to each other Amongst other resemblances the following will not be unpleasant viz. that the number of Seven the number of the Heads of the Beast seems to be affected in the publick buildings of Avignon which is the Master-piece of the Popes for there are 7 Parishes 7 Monasteries 7 Hospitals 7 Colleges 7 Palaces 7 Markets and 7 Gates which make up 7 times 7. The City of Carpentras Carpentoracte Meminorum lies upon the Russe 5 or 6 Leagues from Antignon with a Judge in Ordinary an Office of the Pope's Exchequer and a Bishoprick Susfragan of Avignon It is seated on the foot of Mount Ventoux which is four Leagues high and on the ruins of Venasque or Vindausca in a fruitful Soil with good Walls about it This is properly the Chief City of the County Venaissin Cavaillon Cabellio Colonia lies upon the Durance in an Island form'd by that River the Calevon and the Durancole 9 Miles South West of Avignon It was formerly seated on a Hill where are still some remains of old Buildings but now it lies in a very fruitful Plain though for the rest it is small and ill built the Cathedral is dedicated under the name of S. Veran one of its Bishops in the 6th Century It belong'd to the Cavares Vaison Vasio is seated upon a Hill washed by the Louveze It 's mention'd by Pliny Ptolomy and other ancient Geographers as one of the Cities of the Vocontii and seems to have been pretty considerable But it has been so oft ransack'd and plunder'd by the Goths Vandales and Sarracens that there is but a heap of ruins where it formerly laid viz. in the plain about the Church of our Lady The other places of note are Mârnas Chateau-neuf-du-Pape Barbentanes and Boulbon upon or near the Rhone Graveson Chateau-renard Noves Caumont and Valorges about the Durance Chateau-neuf L' Isle Pernes Pont de Sorgues near the River Sorgues Bedarides Sarrian Caron Flassan Mazan Venasque S. Didier about Carpentras Miolans Queyrane and Cameret about Vaison Of the Principality of Orange I Put here this Principality because it cannot be describ'd any where else since it 's included by the County Venaissin on all sides save on the West by the Rhone It is very small though its Territory be extraordinary fertil in Wine Corn Fruits c. for its greatest length
that according to the geniâs of the French Tongue Saillans cannot be derived from thence The Village of Bourdeaux gives it name to a Vally on the South of the River Achasse Of the BARONNIES THis Counary the most Southerly of Dauphine produces not only good Wine but also some Olives Figs Oranges and Pomegranates It seems to be so named from the several Lordships it comprehends in its little extent of 16 Leagues East and West and six or seven North and South It is likewise called the Bailiwick of le Buys from its Capital seated on the River Ouveze on the Borders of Provence six Leagues North East of Vaison It is but a small Town tho it be the Seat of a Baily and that the Protestants and Roman Catholicks thought it worth their trouble to fight for it the Lord of St. Auban having taken it for the former in 1561. Here and at Nions another pretty Town five Leagues North West upon the River Eygues were a great num of Protestants Near the last is a large Rock with a Hole that emits a wind almost insensible hard by but very violent at 20 or 30 Steps distance I shall not insist upon the several Lordships of this Country as Condouret Gouvernet Menouillon Montbrun which have given their Names to as many noble Families Of Gapencois THis Bayliwick extended about 18 Leagues North and South and 14 East and West tho' it be for the most part Mountainous does not want any of the conveniencies of Life It s ancient Inhabitants were called Tricorii as appears by the Description that Livy makes of Hannibal's Journy thorough Dauphine In this Territory is the trembling Meadow le pré qui tremble accounted one of the seven Wonders of Dauphine Horses and Carts dare not go over it for fear of sinking down The Capital City is called in Latin Vapincum but tho it has been along time so considerable that it was the 5th in Order among the Cities of Narâonnoise Gaule yet it is not mentioned by ancient Geographers It s modern name is Gap now somewhat famous by the late expedition of the Duke of Savoy It formerly belong'd to the Counts of Forcalquier till William the VI. gave it for her Portion to his Grand-Daughter Beatrix of Claustrail married to Guy Andrew Dauphin of Vienne in 1202 whence perhaps it is that the Bishop intitles himself Count of Gap This Town is not very big nor very strong neither being commanded by Mountains round about and having no other River but a small Book called Bene. During the civil Wars the Papists proved the strongest in this Town and having driven out the Protestants 1561 declared afterwards for the League The Duke of Lesdeguieres the French King's Lieutenant to keep these Rebels in awe built a Fort upon a Hill nam'd Puymore a Mile West of the Town in 1588. Last year 1692. The Duke of Savoy having taken Ambrun Gap surrendred to him but he abandoned both soon after The Inhabitants of Gap hold St. Demetrius a Martyr for their first Bishop but their first Prelate remembred in History is one Constance who assisted at the Council of Paunas in 1509. Veynes 6 Leagues South-West of Gap is the habitation of many Gentlemen who divide amongst them the jurisdiction of the place It 's seated between fruitful Mountains and Meadows but is not accounted a Town because not wall'd in However it would be as big as Gap if the 7 or 8 Hamlets depending on it were joyn'd Serres upon the River Buech 10 Leagues South West of Gap is a small Town that has its name from the Hills whereupon it is built and wherewith it is encompassed that are called in the Country Language Serres The place is capable of good Fortification and therefore in the late civil Wars the Duke of Lesdiguieres built there a strong Castle whose Ruins are still to be seen Orpierre three or four Leagues South of Serres is a considerable Burough with the Title of Barony belonging to the House of Orange La Roche has the Title of County Tallart of Viscounty Sauze and Esparron of Marquisates Montmaur and Arzilliers of Baronies c. St. Bonnet five Leagues North of Gap is the Birth-place of Francois de Bonne who from a simple Gentleman rais'd by his Valor to the Dignities of Duke and Peer Mareschal and Lord High Constable of France It 's observ'd that on the first of April 1543 that this great Captain came into the World and the 28 of September 1624 that he departed from it two memorable Incendies happen'd at St. Bonnet Lesdiguieres has a fine but not strong Castle It was erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom on behalf of the forementioned Francois de Bonne in 1611. It lies 5 Leagues West of St. Bonnet and nine North-west of Gap Of Ambrunois THis Country reaches not above ten or eleven Leagues on all sides and a great part of it is barren Mountains and Desarts It was the dwelling-place of the Caturigae whereof there are still some remains in the name of the Village of Chârges Catorigomagus 4 Leagues West of Ambrun and as many East of Gâp AMBRVN or Embrun the Capital was the chief Habitation of the Ambruareti Allies to the Romans according to Du Chesne but the name of their City was Ebredunum or Ebrodunum Caturigum to distinguish it from Ebredunum Helvetiorum which is Iverdun in Switzerland This City is now small but seems formerly to have been considerable since Caesar makes mention of it and that in the Dauphin's time it was the Title of their eldest Son The Arch-Bishop has for Suffragans 6 Cities of Provence Digne Grasse Vence Glandeve Senez and Nice and takes the Title of Prince of Ambrun and Count of Seyne and Guillestre Ambrun was formerly an Imperial Town but the Founders of the second Kingdom of Burgundy gave the Sovereignty of it to its Prelates who in process of time yielded part of their Right to the French King's as that of Coyning Mony c. However they have still part of the Towns Jurisdiction and the other is Royal under the Title of Bailiwick and Presidial Ambrun is seated on the Platform of a rugged Rock washed by the River Durance 'T is said that about the end of the first Century one of St. Nazare planted there Christianity but if so be it had been almost extinguished after his decease or departure since we do not read of any Bishop there before St. Marcellin about the Year 340. In 1583 Lesdiguieres the French King's Lieutenant took this Town from the League and the Inhabitants redeemed themselves from Plunder by a free Contribution as they have done the same way from the Duke of Savoy's Arms in 1692. The Cittadel which had been built during the civil Wars has been since demolished Seyne has the Title of a County depending on the Archbishop of Ambrun as we have already hinted however Sanson puts it in Provence and some will have it to be a remainder of the ancient Sentii Guillestre is a
of the antientest Towns in the Gauls and even in all Europe and therefore its original is very uncertain for 't is not likely that it should have been built by Vennerius an African Exile and called Bienna because it was raised in two years for the Latin Tongue was not yet so far spread as to derive the Etymology of such an antient Town from one of its compounded Words Neither is the Original related by Stephanus less fabulous for he pretends that the Inhabitants of Biennus a Town of Crete or Candie which no body mentions but himself being driven out of their Country by a great drought came by the direction of the Oracle to a marshy place along the Rhone where they built this Town and call'd it Bienna from the name of one of their Virgins who had been swallowed up by the ground whilst she was dancing But as this Town is named Vienna Allobrogum by the antient Geographers who used to give to Cities the name of their Founders so it is apparent that it has been built by the Natives of the Country the Allobroges However 't is stiâl very difficult to determine the time of its Foundation only we know that about the year 366 of Rome when the Senenois passed over Italy they built two Temples at Vienna one dedicated to Mars and the other to the Victory This Town has flourished a long time under tho Romans Tiberius Graâchus built there a Bridge in 566 of Rome and fortified the two ends of it with a strong Castle Caesar made it his Store-house for Arms. Tiberius built there that high Tower which the People call the Tower of Pilate as though he had died in this place There is another antient Building now named Notre Dame de La Vic. Our Lady of Life which was formerly a Heathen Temple where the Romans used to render Justice for which reason the People calls it the Pretory or the Palace of Pilate as though he had sate there as Judge during his Banishment They add that he was a Native of Vienne but there is no proof of his being born or ever exil'd thither and this fabulous Tradition seems to take its Original from Humbert Pilati Secretary to the last Dauphin who had a Country-House near St. Vallier which the vulgar also calls the House of Pilate The Emperor Galba granted many Privileges to this Town in requital of the affection of its Citizens who had declared for him against Nero whilst those of Lyons held still for that Tyrant wherefore he also confiscated their Goods During the Civil Wars of Otho and Vitellius a Captain of the last took Vienne in his possession and while this Emperor was sitting on the Tribunal Seat a Cock light'd on his shoulders and then on his head signifying as the Augures explain'd it that he should fall into the hands of a Gaulish Man and so it happened for the first who defeated him was one Antony of Tolosa Nickname Becco or Cock-beak Diocletian and Maximian who strove to perpetuate their memory through the most famous Cities called one of this Town-Gates Herculia Besides all this Vienne is remarkable for the Banishment of Archelaus Herode the Great 's Son and Successor for being the Native Country of Valerius Asiaticus who was twice Consul which shews that the Viennois were a Roman Citizens born and might become Senators in that Capital of the World There also it was that Julianus Caesar began his Consulship by the Celebration of solemn Games that the Emperor Valentinian the young was kill'd by Count Arbogast Constant the Usurper by Gerontius and Godegile Prince of Burgundy by his Brother Gondebaud The Romans had adorned Vienne in which they much delighted with several Magnificent Buildings as an Amphitheatre an Aqueduct a Palace c. whereof there are still considerable remains and this is not at all strange since Vienne was the Capital of the Narbonnoise which they first conquered and beautified above the rest The Burgundians were the first who took this Town from the Romans and made it the head of their Kingdoms but after they had been subdued by the French Vienne remained united to that Monarchy till it became part of a second Kingdom of the Burgundians in Charles the Simple's time At the dismembring of this new Realm it passed under the Power of the Dauphins who intitled themselves Dauphins of Viennois and Counts of Albon a Castle along the Rhone between Vienne and Valance It will be worth our enquiry to see how this great Town is by degrees fallen to the low State it is now in for 't is hardly extended a Mile in length from Lyons Gate to that oâ Avignon and its breath comes not near it Vienne was then at first the Capital City of the Narbonnoise that is of Savoy Dauphine Provence and Languedoc and when it was converted to Christianity its Metropolitan had under him the Bishops of all their Provinces And indeed the first Christians of Vienne besides the Dignity of their Town seem'd to desârve that honour for they not only confessed the name of our Saviour in the middle of a cruel Persecution under the Emperor Decius but also encouraged the other faithful by their Writings and Examples as may be seen by a Letter which Eusebius has inserted in his Ecclesiastical History Soon after the Narbonnoise was subdivided into 5 Provinces of which the Viennoise had the honour to be the first and had 13 Episcopal Cities depending on it In process of time Arles one of its Suffragans growing in Wealth and bigness was erected into an Archbishoprick and deprived its Metropolitan of seven of its Suffragans of which however it kept but 4 viz. St. Paul Trois Chasteaux Orange Marseille and Toulon the Popes making afterwards their dear Avignon an Archbishoprick and subjecting to it the Cities of Vaison Cavaillon and Carpentras so that the Metropolitan of Vienne has now but 5 real Suffragans viz. Valence Die Viviers Grenoble and St. John de Maurienne to which may be added the Titular Bishop of Geneve But the greatest unhappiness of Vienne came from that which was designed to keep the lustre of its Metropolitans namely the Gift which the Emperors made to them of the Sovereignty of the Town for this caused several broils betwixt these Prelates and the Dauphins which by succession of time much depopulated this ancient City so that in 1448 the Archbishops were forced at last to yield up their Right to Lewis the XIth then Dauphin and afterwards King of France The name of this easie Prelate was John of Poictiers whose Successors have been ever since in a little esteem whereas his Predecessors made a great figure in the World Vienne has had the Privilege of coyning Money as appears by several pieces bearing its name under the first and second race of the French Kings Thirteen Miles North East of Vienne lies upon a Mountain the Village of Ponay which Mr. Chorier esteems to be the place where the Epaânense or Ponense
Concilium was held after the Conversion of Sigismund King of Burgundy in 517. Adrian de Valois mentions a Village call'd Ebao or Tortillane which 800 years ago belong'd to the Archbishops of Vienne and consequently did not lye far off and thence infers that Ebao and Epaone are the same name but I find no such place as Ebao or Tortillane in my Maps The first considerable Town after Vienne in this Diocese is Romans upon the Isere fifteen Leagues South East of Vienne and 14 West of Grenoble It was originally an Abby founded by one Bernard Archbishop of Vienne and call'd Romanis or Romanum Monasterium either because the Romans were yet Masters of the Country or that he put in Monks and Clerks coming out of Rome Whatever be of that the Jurisdiction of the Town formerly belonged to the Collegiate Church of St. Bernard but in 1344. Pope Clement the VI. made a gift of another Mans property by transferring it to the Dauphin Humbert who yielded him up Avisan 'T is observed âhat the Situation of this Town has some ãâã with that of Jerusalem and especially a small Hill within its Walls to Mount Calvaire which was the reason that one Romanet Bossiâ who had travelled into the Holy Land erected there a Building representing the St. Sepulchre with a Monastery for Franciscan Fryers in 1520. In 1562 the Protestants becoming Masters of the Town plunder'd the said Convent and Church St. Marcellin 7 Leagues North East of Romans and 8 West of Grenoble is the head of a small Bayliwick that takes up 6 or 7 Leagues of the North end of the Diocese of Vienne On the Borders of this Bayliwick 8 Leagues North East of St. Marcellin and 6 North of Grenoble is the Burrough of Voyron where was a famous Abby and a goodly Town called in the old Chartres Visorontia or Veserontia if we believe the Jesuit Labbe for Adrian de Valois conjectures more probably that it is a place still called Veseronce 4 Leagues North East of the Town of Bourgoin one South of the County of Bouchage and 2 West of the Rhone In the same Bayliwick lies the small Town of Thin or Thain 7 Miles West of Romans it is seated upon the Rhone over against Tournon from which it is separated by nothing but this River It must have been of some consideration in the 4th or 5th Century since the Maps of the Emperor Theodosius published by the Brothers Peutingers mention it under the name of Tegna 15 Miles North of Romans lies the Town of Moras seated upon a Mountain 5 Miles of St. Rambert upon the Rhone Going out of the Bayliwick of Grenoble 10 Leagues North of that City you meet with the Town of Pont de Beauvoisin Pons Bellovicinus so called because it is built upon the River Giere and divided into two parts united by a Bridge This part of Viennois is all mountainous as well as Savoy and Bresse upon which it borders The Inhabitants name it Terres Froides and made a great Traffick of the Vipers which abound in their Country Six leagues West of Pont de Beauvoisin is the famous Barony of La Tour du Pin of which the Dauphins bore the Title On this Barony formerly depended the Town of Bourgoin which lies three Leagues farther to the West and is renowned for its Trade of Hemp. Five Leagues North of Bourgoin lies the Burrough of Cremieu in Latin Stramiacum where the Emperor Lewis the Meek kept an Assembly in 836. The Burrough of Anton upon the Rhone 7 Leagues East of Lyons seems to have been built or beautified by Marc Antony the Triumvir both by its Latin name Antoniacum and by these Verses of Sidoâius Apollinaris Pocula non heic sunt illustria nomine pagi Quod posuit nostris ipse Triumvir agris For this Part of Viennoise was in the Territory of Lyons wherein this Poet was born so that he will say that the Country thereabouts afforded no better Wine than that of Anton. Six Leagues East of Anton upon the Rhone and the Borders of Bresse lies the Town of Quirieu 3 Leagues North of Vienne and 5 South of Lyons lies the Burrough of St. Saphorin renowned for its Post-asses These Animals are so well taught that they go to the Burrough of La Guillotiere which makes part of Lyons but shall not advance a step farther than the place where they are used to be let loose though you should beat them never so much and the same they do in their return to St. Saphorin I supersede to describe the many Lordships that are in this Country as the Marquisates of Virieu and Omacieu the Counties of Diximieu Serrieres Bouchage Roussillon Anjou Charms the Baronies of Baubec Anton c. Of VALENTINOIS THis Country included between the Rhone and Isere the Bayliwick of Die and the Tricastinois reaches 20 Leagues North and South but hardly 6 or 8 East and West The Southern part is more mountainous the Northern more plain but both abundant with all the conveniencies of life The Capital Valance lies upon the Rhone 6 Leagues South West of Romans and 18 of Grenoble The Latins call it Valentia or Julia Vallentia because of its strength and of the Colony they had transported there In their time it was Inhabited by the Segalauni one of the chief People of the Gauls and their Dominions extended even beyond the Rhone since Tournon was in their Jurisdiction VALENTINOIS was erected into a Sovereign County at the dismembring of the French Monarchy under the Successors of Charlemaign The first Count thereof remember'd in History is one Gontard who lived in 950 and who by the Sirname of Poictiers which he left to his Successors seems to be descended from the antient Dukes of Aquitain I have observ'd how Lewis of Poictiers yielded his Dominions to the French King Lewis the XI who united them to the rest of Dauphiné Lewis the XII erected this County into a Dukedom for Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the VI. but the Lords of Poictiers made a solemn protestation against it pretending their Father could not deprive them of their Inheritance The Suit was along time depending before the Parliament of Grenoble but what their good Right could not get was obtained by the Beauty of a Lady of that House Diane of Poictiers Mistress to Francis the I. who easily prevailed upon that King to present her with the contested Dutchy which after her death was united again to the French Crown Valence is the head of a Seneschalship to which the Vice-seneschalships of Crest and Montlimar are resorting It has likewise a Presidial-seat and Election and an University for the Civil and Cannon Law wherein Doctors are made and the Famous Cujas has taught It s Bishop is Suffragan to Vienne and the first is one Emilian It s Cathedral is dedicated to another of its Prelates called St. Apollinaire But I must not forget that famous Nicodemite John of Montluc Bishop of Valence who liv'd under the Reign
Charges in France especially the Lieutenancy of Provence You have yet in this Diocese Donzere Pierre-Latte La Palu Suze Mondragon c. CHAP. XIX Of the Government Lyonnois THE most ancient Authors especially the Greeks us'd to call Gaule Celtick ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã and ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã Then that appellation became proper to that part that was included betwixt the Rhone the Seine and the Marne the Ocean and the Garomne but Augustus took off that which lay betwixt the Garomne and the Loire to ineâease Aquitain and gave it the name of Lyonnoise from Lyons its Capital City At this present the Government Lyonnois is far narrower comprehending only 6 Provinces viz. Lyonnois properly so call'd Forez and Beaujolois that are very little and make scarce together 25 Leagues North and South and 35 East and West The other three are Bourbonnois La Marche and Auvergne which reach all together 52 Leagues North and South from Germigny in Bourbonnois over against Dun-le Roy in Berry to Entraygues in Auvergne on the River Lot and 76 East and West from Belle-ville on the Rhone in Beaujolois to Availle on the Vienne in the Country of La Marche Most of the Rivers that water this Government belong more properly to others where you will find their course described as the Vienne the Creuse and the Indre in Orleannois the Dordonne in Languedoc the Loire and the Rhone in the General Description and the Saone in Burgundy Remains then only the Allier Elaver which rises in the Cevennes on the Borders of Gevaudan and Velay waters Les-Chazes Langeac Peyrusse La Voute Brioude Auzon Issoire Vic-le Comte Pont du Chateau Vichis S. Germain des fossez Varennes Mâulins receives in its way the Alagnon near Auzon the Duore or Dore and the Siolle or Sioulle increas'd with the Bouble near Maringues betwixt Pont du Chateau and Vichy Then falls into the Loire 3 Miles South West of Nevers after it has separated Nivernois from Bourbonnois during 10 Leagues Of Proper LYONNOIS LIONNOIS properly so called is about 12 Leagues in length and 7 in breadth it is situated between Dauphine from which 't is separated on the East by the Rhone it has Bresse and Beaujolois on the North Forez on the West and Vivarais on the South It s Soil about Lyons is more proper for Wine than Corn in other things it is abundantly fertil affording great quantity of excellent Fruits and some Mines of mixt Mettals Besides the Rhone and the Saone which carry abundance of things to Lyons there are some small Rivers the Azargues the Mornance the Brenne and the Giez which have not 15 Leagues in their whole Course Lyons the chief City of this division and of the whole Government is seated on the Confluence of the Rhone and the Saone Its Situation is very pleasant its Original antient and its Trade the greatest in the Kingdom so that Lyons is generally esteem'd one of the Principal Cities of Europe Here is an Archbishop who is Primate of the Celtick Gaulae the Archbishops of Rouen Tours and Sens depending by right upon him as Metropolitans of the second third and fourth Lyonnoise to whom may be now added the Archbishop of Paris as the head of a 5th Province The Diocese of Lyons extends through all Proper LYONNOIS Forez and Beaujolois Here are also a Count of the Treasury of France a Presidial Seat a Seneschals Court an Election a Tribunal of Commerce which is annext to the Consulate under the Title of the Conservation of Lyons Authors vary very much about the Foundation of Lyons and the Original of its Name Some say that Lugdus King of the Celtes was the Founder of it so that from Lugdus and Dunum which signifies a Mountain did arise Lugdidunum or Lugdunum some will have it to come from Lug which in the Cimbrique Tongue signifieth Fortune and Dunum a Hill that is the Hill or Mountain of Fortune others from two Gaulish words Lugo-dunum which they interpret the Mountain of the Raves And others again from Lucius Plancus who by order of the Senate brought thither a Roman Colony from Vienne It is sure that before that time that is before the Triumvirate Lyons was already a considerable City though not so famous as it became afterwards In 744 of Rome 60 Gaulish Cities contributed towards the erection of an Altar dedicated to Augustus and built on the confluence of the Saone and Rhone at a place call'd Ainay where is still a famous Abby of Benedictins Here Caius Caesar celebrated Games and Prises were given to those that deliver'd the best Discourse in Greek and Latin Under the Empire of Nero a great part of this City was burnt down to whose rebuilding this Emperor gave out of his Exchequer 400000 Sesterces as much as they themselves had contributed before in troublesome times This made the LYONNOIS so faithful to his interest that they withstood Galba and stuck to the false Nero until they were undeceiv'd In Antonine's time there was an Amphitheatre which according to an ancient Chronicle had been built by the Emperor Trajan at a place call'd now Serviere where stands the Collegiate Church of S. Thomas In the Collegiate Church of S. John the Canons have the Title of Counts and the Dean that of Duke Pontius Pilate who condemn'd our Lord was a Native of Lyons and confin'd thither for his Concussions as well as Herod Antipas and his Miss Herodias the Murtherers of S. John the Baptist and starv'd there Pierre-Cize is an old and strong Castle where Prisoners of State are kept It has its name from the Rock in which it is built there is no Author who speaks of this City without giving it great Elogies In antient Inscriptions it is term'd Colonia Claudia Copia or the Colony of Claudius and the abundance of Gaule because the Emperor Claudius was born there he mixt that Colony with that of the Viennois and order'd that Lyons should be the Granary of the Gauls as being situated between Bresse Bourgogne Auvergne Velay Vivarais Dauphine Bugey c. from whence it receives all sorts of commodities by the means of the two Rivers that water it Herodian call'd it great and happy City Ptolâmy gave it the name of famous Metropolis Sidonius Apollinaris call'd it Rhodanusia or the best City on the Rhone Scaliger term'd it un Nouveau âânde dans le vieux un vieux dans le Nouveau â new World in the old and an old in the new The Country about that City is extraordinary âleasant The other places of some note in LYONNOIS are Chavaney Coindrieu renown'd for its Wine Vimy Chasselay Anse along the Rhone âarare Chazal La Bresle S. Genis-l'Argentier S. Genis-la-Val S. Saphorin le Chastel Monâagny Revirie S. Andiol S. Martin en Jarez ââive de Giez S. Chaumont a Marquisate known ãâã the Manufactory of Silk S. Jean de Bonneââs c. Of FOREZ FOREZ Segusianus Ager or Pagus Forensis hath as great an Extent as
Lyonnois and Beaujolois together it hath Burgundy and Bourbonnois on the North Velay and Vivarais ân the South the Mountains of Auvergne ân the West Lyonnois and Beaujolois on the âast This Country is very fertil and faââous for its great number of Noblemens âouses It 's proverbially said that one may âs soon number the Stars in the Firmament as âo count all the Rivulets and Brooks which ârom all quarters of this Country fall into the Loire It hath many excellent Medicinal Waters It is divided into Upper and Lower The Upper is near the Cevennes and the Lower all beyond the Loire on the West-side All this Country is full of Woods and Forests especially the Upper part whence some derive the name of it and write it Forets but other deny that Original and spell it Forez and the Latin favours their Opinion besides that the Inhabitants are call'd Foresiens and not Forestiens They are famous through all the Kingdom for their Trade of Iron-Wares and for making all sorts of Iron-Works This Country has still the Title of a County It has had its particular Counts who were also Counts of Lyons since the year 1070. Some of them have been famous in History as Charles II. of Bourbon Lord High Constable of France under Francis I. Soon after this County was re-united to the French Crown by the same King It s Principal Towns are Montbrison S. Etienne Roanne and Feurs Montbrison Mons Brusonis Capital os Upper Forez is situated on the little River Vecize 14 Leagues from Lyons towards the West it hath a Bailywick an Election and a Provosâship formerly it was nothing else than a Castle called Brison afterwards inclâsed with Walls Anno 428. Here are a Collegiate Church dedicated to our Lady and divers Religious Houses with the best Clock-spell of the whole Province St. Etienne de Furens Fanum Sancti Stephani is a Town 2 Leagues E. of the P. ver Loire and to South-west of Lyons it 's situated at the foot of a Mountain on the Rivâlet of Furens whâse Waters are very proper for the tempering of Iron which occasioneth a vast quantity of Iron-Works to be made in that Country from whence âany places of Europe are furnished In a Mountain hard by is a Mine of Stone-Coals âhat burns since several Years Roanne Rodumna is the Capital City of a little Country called Roannois in Forez fifteen Leagues North-west of Lyons having the Title of Dutchy âituated on the River Loire which thereabouts âegins to carry considerable Boats wherein ââose that design to go to Orleans by water use ââ imbark In it is a Colledge of Jesuits as âlso divers religious Houses It had anciently its Counts issued from the House of FOREZ Feurs Forum Segusianorum is situated on the âiver Loire where it receiveth the little River âignon so famous in the Romance of Astrea âetween Lyon Roanne and S. Etienne It lies ââne or ten Leagues West of Lyons St. Galmier upon the Loire half-way betwixt âeurs and S. Etienne de Furens is renowned for â Fountain whose Water tastes like Wine ââd 'tis said that if one mixes a fourth part of âine with it that mixture cannot be distinââished from pure Wine St. Ferreol a League East of the Loire and â South-west of S. Etienne de Furens has a Bayâick as well as Bourg-Argental on the borders â âelay 3 Leagues West of the Rhone On the West-side of the Loire you meet ââth Leignieu Montarchior S. Rambert Bouen â Germain-la-Val Vrsé a Marquisate the small ââuntry of Chevalez with the Capital S. Just âââzet Chateau-Moran c. Of BEAUJOLOIS BEAVJOLOIS Bellâ-Jocensis Pagus having the Title of Barony is situated between the Saone and the Loire it hath Lionnois on the South the Principality of Dombes and part of Maconnois on the East Charolois on the North and Forez on the West This Country is very fertil in Wine Corn Hemp and depends partly on the Bishop oâ Macon viz. the most Northern Parts but alâ the rest lies under the Archbishop of Lyons Itâ chief places are Beaujeu Ville-Franche and Belle-Ville Beaujeu Bellus-Jocus is now only a Village situated on the Ardiere having a Castle which gave its name to BEAVJOLOIS and the Lord of the House of Beaujeu which is so famous anâ ancient and seems to be a Branch of the Housâ of Savoy It 's about 11 Leagues North North West of Lyons and is famous for some Sculptures or fine Engraven Works after the Antiquâ Fashion Ville-Franche Francopolis or Villa Franca is seven Leagues from Lyons towards thâ North being distant about half a League froâ the Saone now it 's esteemed the Capital oâ BEAVJOLOIS It has a Collegiate Church aâ Election a Bayliwick an Academy and â Granary of Salt There is the first Monastery of Franciscans that was ever built in France Belle-Ville is distant from Lyons about 10 Leagues and is very nigh the Saone The other places as Pereux Tâizy-Reignie are but inconsiderable Buroughs or Villages Of BOURBONNOIS BOVRBONNOIS Burbonensis Pagus hath Forez and Bourgogne on the East Berry on the VVest from which it is separated by the Cher Auvergne and Forez on the South and on the North it hath Nivernois with part of Berry from East to VVest it extends it self about 30 Leagues and about 18 or 20 from South to North. This Country abounds with Fruits Rye and Pulse Pastures VVallnuts Oil and Mines of Iron BOVRBONNOIS is divided into upper and lower according to its proximity to the Mountains of Auvergne Montagar is accounted the Capital of the Upper and Moulins in the Lower of the whole Câuntry The ancient Bâii a Celtick Nation having exhausted themselves by sending Colonies into Italy and Germany were afterwards extinguished in the Gaules but some of the German Plantation re-entring their original Country in company of the Switzers the latter were defeated by the Romans and the former settled themselves in some part of the Territories âf the Autunois with the leave of thâ Inhabitants and of the Romans The place iâ thought to be Moulin's because it depends on the Bishop of Autun whereas the rest oâ BOVRBONNOIS resorts either to the Bishop oâ Nevers to the Archbishop of Bourges or to thâ Bishop of Clermont The Loire the Allier with other little Rivers and many Ponds in this Country afford great variety of Fish to the Indabitants It s Mineraâ VVaters occasion a great confluence of Strangers The learned Gui Coquille says that BOVRBONNOIS consisted at first only of Bourbon Larchambaud and some adjacent Lordships buâ that its Counts encroaching upon their Neighbours made it such a large Country as 't is now â An Image of what the French Kings of thaâ Family should do Robert II. Son to Lewis IX was the first Prince of the Royal Blood oâ France who bare the name of Bourbon having spoused the Heiress of it Moulins Molinae situated on the Allier in a Plain very large fertil and pleasant It haâ that name from the
many Water-Mills that are about it and its rise if we believe Samson â from a Bridge which Caesar rebuilt here Thiâ Town has a strong and fine Castle and is especially renowned for the good Knives and Cizerâ that are made in it Formerly 't was the ordinary Residing-place of the Dukes of Bourbon Moulins is divided into four Parts the City iâ self the new Town the Suburb of the Carmelites and that of the Allier It 's a City pretty ancient and its Medicinal Waters render it very famous It hath a Collegiate Church 3 or 4 Parishes divers religious Houses a Colledge of Jesuits a Presidial-Seat a Generality on which the Elections of Montlussân Gaâââ and Esvaon and several others in Nivernâis and Upper Marche are depending Moulins lies 39 Leagues North-west of Lyons Bourbon-l'Archambaut Burbo Erchenbaldi is a Town and a Castle situated in a fruitful Valley betwixt four Mountains It is as ancient as King Pepân's time and was but at first a Barony which the French King Charles the Fair erected into a Dutchy and Peerdom in 1327. The Castle is seated on a Rock and surrounded with 24 Towers The Dukes have founded there an ââoây Chappel with 12 Canons and a Treasurer There are also a large Pond and renown'd Baths The other places of Bourbonnois are Vichâ Cusset a fortified Town S. Germain-des-Fossez Billi La Palisse a County where is a fine Castle and a large Park S. Germain-le-Puy Varennes Jaligni Doinpierre c. All betwixt the Allier and the Lotre St. Amand at the foot of the fortress Montrond that was raz'd in 1652. Aââay-le-Vieux and Montlucon all three upon the Cher. The last lies in a very good Territory with Woods Pastures and Vines Near it is a Box-Tree Warren which being green all the year round goes there for a Wonder Neris is famous because of its Baths and has 13 Mills upon a Brook of warm Water La Marche is the Capital of the little Country of Combraille Montegut lez Combraille resorts to no inferio Justice but depends immediately on the Parliament of Paris Chantelle and Fourrilles are two Marquisates the former of which has a very fine House Bellenave is a considerable Lordship Ville-Franche St. Hilaire Herisson Sâncoin are places of some note all lying betwixâ the Allier and the Cher. Of AUVERGNE AVVERGNE Arvernia having the Title of a County hath Forez on the East Bourbonnois on the North Limosin Quercy and La-Marche on the West Rouârgue and the Cevennes on the South Thiâ Province from North to South is about forty Leagues and about thirty from West to East It 's divided into Higher and Lower The Lower called Limagne Lemane lieth along the River Allier in a very fertil Plain abounding in Corn Wine and Mineral Waters They trade much in Tapestry-Hangings Laces Cloaths Knives and other Commodities The Inhabitants in general are skilful industrious good Soldiers and understand their Interest very well The Auvergnats Arverni have been one of the Wealthiest and Mightiest Nations in the Gauls and are said to have extended their Dominions to the Rhine and the Mediterranean Sea They were still powerful enough in the Gauls in Caesar's Time since the Gevaudans the Velains and the Quercinois were their Tributaries and Vercingentorix an Auvergnat had interest enough in the Gauls to make them rise against the Romans They had some time before wag'd War against those Conquerors of the World having in conjunction with the Allobroges attack'd the Autunois Allies to the Romans but they had been beaten and their King Bituitus taken Prisoner Vpper Auvergne or Le-haut-pays lies in the Cevennes which from thence are call'd the Mountains of AVVERGNE The Capital S. Flour S. Flori Oppidum has its name from one Florus Bishop of the Velains It lies on the top of a Mountain which is flat and is wash'd by the Rivulet Lander call'd Indiciacum It was erected from a Priory to a Bishoprick in 1317 by Pope John XXII and the Chapter of the Cathedral was seculariz'd by Pope Sixtus IV. It is and has been still an inconsiderable Town eighteen Leagues North-East of Rodez and 39 South-west of Lyons Aurillac Aureliacum bears most probably the Name of one Aurelius its Founder though others derive it from an adjacent Lake where 't is pretended that Grains of Gold were found There is a famous Abby of Benedictins which has still the name of its Founder being called l'Abbaye de S. Giraud Mauriac is considerable for its Fairs whether are brought vast numbers of Horses and for a College of Jesuits Madic has a Castle one of the finest Houses in the whole Province both bordering upon Limosin The other places are Entraygues Ghaudes-Aigues Carlat Vic en Carladez Roquebrou Bleaux Salers Murat Lastic a Viscounty Massiat a Lordship Alanches Achon Riom-des-Montagnes Miramont Blesâe c. The Mountains of AVVERGNE are not rugged and naked but full of Grass and excellenâ Simples which are much esteem'd by Physicians The chief of this Country have a greaâ Name through the whole Kingdom and Milk is so abundant here that it surpasses the quantity of the Wine that is made in Lower Auvergne or at least in Limagne the best part of it Mounâ Cantal betwixt S. Flour and Aurillac is the highest of all being always cover'd with Snow and has 3 Leagues in length Lower-Auvergne is divided again into two Parts by the River Allier and the East-side iâ called Limagne Lemane Limmane and Limane since the Time of Gregory of Tours Clermont Nemetum Augustonemetum afterwards Arverniâ and at last Clarus Mons the Capital of aâ AVVERGNE is seated upon a Mountain whencâ it has its modern Name betwixt two Rivulets Artier and Bedat that discharge themselves into the Allier on the West-side It has the Title oâ a County a Court of Aydes a Presidial and â Bishoprick Suffragan of Bourges Caelius Rhodiginus relates that in Julius Caesar's Time there was a wooden Tower thaâ could never be burnt because it was of Larix which resists Fire In the Time of the Emperor Nero Zenodorus a famous Statuary made there ãâã Colosse ãâã Mercury 400 foot high which was the cause that he was called to Rome to make a Colossean Statue of that Emperor of an 110 Foot There was then at Clermont a Temple covered with Lead pav'd with Marble of inlaid Work and having a double Wall 3â foot thick The Cathedral Church is still a sumptuous Building âovered with Pewâer or Lead mix'd with Tin Mony has formerly been coyn'd here as appears by a Tower that bears still the Name of the Tower of the Mint The Records of this Town make also mention of a Capitole where Weights and Measures were kept Not far of Cleâment is a Mountain call'd Gergoye on which the ancient City of Gârgovia was apparently seated It 's this Town which Vercingentorix so b arely defended against Julius Caesar that he forc'd that great Captain to raise the Siege There is likewise a Brook called Tiretaine whose Waters are thick and slimy
Frano-Countois were the cause of a second coming of the Romans The Sequani being too weak for the Aedui had invited the Germans and with their Succors defeated 'em twice Upon this Divitiacus an Autunois Lord was deputed to Rome and Prevailed easily with the Senate to send an Army into the Gaules The Great Caesar was chosen for this expedition who knew to make a good use of the Friendship of the Aedui and of the Dissensions of the Gaules so that he overcame them all one after another The Autunois perceiv'd but too late they had been mistaken in their Politicks and would feign have been rid of the imperious Master they had given to themselves and their Country-men but the Gaules were already exhausted in a manner of Men and Mony neither had they learn'd the War-Stratagems and Military Discipline of their Conquerors so that their League with Vercingentorix for the relief of the Alesia one of their Towns avail'd nothing but to bring them into the contempt of the Romans who deprived them insensibly of their Countries and Priviledges and made Lyons head of the Celtick Gaules The Autunois rais'd a third time under the Emperor Tiberius but with as little success as before They could never since recover their Liberty and much less their Empire but were always subject either to the Romans the Burgundians or to the French But the greatest losses the Autunois suffer'd were by the rebellion of the Bagaudes or Gaulish Peasants who plundered the Country and all the Towns they could Master under the Conduct of one Amanâ and Elian but were at last defeated by Herculius Maximian associated to the Empire by Diocletian The two Emperours at the sollicitations of Constantius Chlorus Caesar and afterwards Emperour of the Gaules England and Spain began to repair Auâun which Constantius and Constantine his Son finished For this reason the Senate of Autun made a Decree that their City should be called Flavia and the Inhabitants Flavienses from the proper Name of these two Emperours Flavius but this lasted only as long as the Family of the Flavians sat upon the Throne for they retook afterwards their former Name of Augustodunum In the mean while since Augustodunum is compound of a Gaulish and Latin word signifying the Mountain of Augustus it remains unknown what was the name of the Capital of the Aedui before that Emperour for Bibracte was a considerable Town not far from Autun but not Autun it self In Constantius and Constantine's times there was a Capitole dedicated to Jupiter Juno and Minerva a Temple of Apollo and a famous School for Rhetorick and Humane Learning Before the Auntunois were reduced into a Roman Province they govern'd themselves as a Common-wealth chusing every Year a Sovereign Magistrate call'd Vergo-brete who had absolute Power of Life and Death and over their Goods They had then a Senate of Druides an Accademy for the Nobility of the Gaules and a School for the younger Sort. Autun lies now on the confluence of the Aâoux and Tavernay 37 Miles South-west of Dijon St. Lazare of old Nazaire is the Cathedral Church and very considerable both for iâs Structure and Chapter This City is divided into two Parts Higher and Lower The Diocese contains 24 Archpriests and above 600 Parishes The Bishop presides at the States of Burgundy Besides the Cathedral Autun harh a great number of other Churches as alâo many Abbies and other religious Houses Bourbon l'Ansi Burbo Anselli is a Town and a Bayliwick with a Castle in the Diocese of Autun about a Mile from the Loire whiâh separates it from Bourbonnois The Territory of Bourbon towards the Frontiers of Burgundy is encompassed with fertiâ Mountains the Town it self is built upon the top of a little Hill its Castle is guarded with a Ditch hewen out of the Rock During the Civil Wars it could never be taken being defended by Sieur d' Amanze The Mineral Waters of Bourbon were in great esteem even in the Time of the Romans and are as much now priz'd since the Reign of Henry the III. who preferr'd them to all other Waters There are few other places worth to be mentioned save Vianges Blanot Chissey Lucenay-l'Eveque Icy-l'-Eveque La-Motte-S Jean le-Mont-Ceny Brandons and Drapây-S Loup Of CHALONOIS THis Diocese called also Bresse Chalonoise was of the dependencies of Autun It is included betwixt the County of Burgundy Bresse Maconnois Charolois and Autunois The City of Chalon Cabillo Aeduorum or Cabillonum is situated on the Saone with the Title of a County a Bayliwick and a Bishoprick Suffragan to Lyons between Verdun and Tenare 15 Leagues South of Dijon The antiquity of this City appeareth from the great number of Statues and Inscriptions in the ruins of an Amphitheatre and of many other publick Buildings Here it was that the Romans made Magazines of Corn for their Armies and afterwards the Emperours appointed the Rendevouze of their Forces at this place It was almost ruined by Aittila but soon after repair'd The French King 's Gontran and Thierry made their Residence here This City is very spacious and fine the Saone makes here an Isle which they term Fauxbourg Saint Laurence between two Bridges one of Stone and the other of Wood. The most remarkable things in this City are the Palace of the Prince the Cathedral Church of St. Vincent formerly of S. Stephen consisting 25 Canons whereof 7 are Dignitaries the Dean the Singer the Treasurer and four Arch-Deacons S. Marcel is esteemed to be the Apostle of Chalon St. Donatian was Bishop of it in the 4th Century and was at the Council of Cologne Anno 346. Besides the Cathedral Church there are many Parishes as St. George S. Laurence S. Mary which is a Commandership of S. Antony and a fine College of Jesuits The Cittadel of Chalon is fortified with four Royal Bastions The Town of Verdun is upon the Doux nigh its fall into the Saone about 4 Leagues North-East of Chalon The other places of some note are Chaigny Rully Givry la Ferte-Sur-Grosne Tenare Cuzery Branges Sagy Savigny Bojana Beluvre Paigny and Seure de Belle-garde a Dutchy Of the Country of La Montagne THE Country of la Montagne is situated toward the North of the Dutchy of Burgundy about the origin of the Seine betwixt Franche County Champaign Anxerrois Auxois and Dijonnois and depends upon the Bishop of Langres as well as Dijonnois The Capital is Chatillon Castellio ad Sequanam situated on the Seine between Aisei-le-Duc and Bar-sur-seine 31 Miles North-west of Dijon It 's a pretty good Town and the seat of the Baily of la Montagne the River divides it into two Parts one call'd the Bourg and the other Chaumont Here are to be seen the ruins of an old Castle It was the Native Country of William Philander who has made learned Commentaries on the X Books of Vitruvius Bar-sur-seine Barrum ad Sequanam is upon the River Seine where it receives the Ourse the Arse and the Leigne towards the Frontiers of Champaign about 7
Palaces of Cante-Croix and Granvelle and the Town-House deserve to be seen In the last is a Brazen ââgle bearing the statue of the Emperor Charles V. and throwing Water by its two bills The Diocese of Besancon contains 780 Parishes under 15 Deanships and 5 Arch-deaconships Since Franche-County is in the power of the French the Parliament and Chamber of Accounts which had their Seat at Dole have been transfer'd hither so that Besancon may now be accounted the Capital of this Province DOLE Dola is situated on the Dou in a very pleasant and fertil Country and is still the Seat of the Baily of this Division It 's a Town of some Antiquity Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy did found its University in 1426 and the Dutchess Margaret enlarged its Priviledges and indowments in 1404. The French King Lewis the XI took that Town Anno 1479 and sack'd it in a lamentable manner which gave occasion to call it Dola Dolens Mournfull Dâle Anno 1530. the Emperour Charles the V. did fortity it with seven Bastions which afterwards were augmented but Anno 1668 Lewis the XIV took it with the rest of the Province threw down the Walls ruined the Fortifications and then restor'd it to the Spaniards but afterwards Anno 1674 he retook it with the whole Franche-County Other Towns in this Division aâe Ornans Quingey Verceil la Loye Rochefort Chasteau-neuf Raon c. Of the Bayliwick of Poligny THE BAYLIWICK of Poligny or d'Aval in the South-West of Burgundy County is situated between Switzerland on the East Bresse on the South the Dutchy of Burgundy on the West and the Bayliwick of Dole on the North. The cheif Towns are Poligny Salins and S. Claude Poligny the Seat of the Baily lies on the Source of the River Glanstine which emptieth it self into the Dou eight leagues from Dole towards the South-East Salins Salinae Sequanorum is situated between two Mountains nigh the River Forica that discharges it self into the Louve 9 leagues from Besancon towards the South It derives its name from Salt-Springs which did the French King allow it would supply most part of the Country with Salt In the Spaniards time it was extraordinary strong and had a Castle almost impregnable Saint Claude was also pretty well fortify'd It 's situated towards the Frontiers of Bugey and the Country of Gex 7 leagues North-West of Geneve There is a famous Abby that boasts of the Body of St. Claude Archbishop of Besancon in the 7 Century whence the Town hath its name The other places Worthy to be mention'd are Lyon-le-Saunier Arley Ruffey Blesterans Carlaâu Mommorot Monet le Chasteau Sorlin Mirâheau Champagnole Chastel-Chalon Arbois St. Lothain Burgille Nozeret Pontarlier St. Anne Monthenoit c. FINIS THE CONTENTS PART I. A General and Particular Description of France Page 1. CHAP I. Of the ancient and modern Bounds and Divisions of France Of its Mountains Ports Rivers and Forests p. 2. CHAP. II. Of the Air and Soil of France and its various Productions p. 10. CHAP III. Of the Inhabitants of France and of their Language p. 15. CHAP IV. Of the Riches Strength and Government of France p. 20. CHAP V. Of the Chief Officers of the Crown and Kingdom p. 29. CHAP VI. Of the Religion of the French p. 37. PART II. A Description of France wherein each of its great Provinces smaller Counties Cities Royal Houses Forests Mountains Coasts Rivers and Lakes are Geographically and Historically described CHAP I. âorrain the three Bishopricks and the Dutchy of Bar. p. 47. CHAP II. The Principality of Sedan and Dukedom of Bouillon and Rethel p. 58. CHAP III. Of Champaign p. 62. 1. Rheims p. 64. 2. Precinct of Caalons and Troyes p. 67. 3. Senonois 4. Langres 5. Bassigni Vallage and Perthois p. 70 71 72. 6. The County of Briâ and more especially Briâ Champenoise p. 74. CHAP IV. Of the Isle of France and its dependencies p. 77. Paris p. 80. Towns and Places of Note in the Parisis or the Territory of Paris p. 97. Versailles Trianon p. 99. 113. Other Towns Royal Houses and Places of Note in the Parisis p. 115. French Brie Hurepoix p. 126. 127. Mantoan p. 137. ârench Vexin Beauvaisis p. 145. 147. Soissonuois Laonnois p. 156 157. Noyonnois p. 159. CHAP V. Of Picardy p. 160 Tierache Vermandois p. 163. 166. Santerre Amienois p. 169. 171. Vimeux Ponthieu p. 175 176. Boulenois p. 179. The Recovered Country p. 182. CHAP VI. Of Normandy especially the Higher p. 186. Norman Vexin p. 191. Caux Bray Roumois 197 205 206. The Bishoprick of Evreux p. 206. CHAP VII Of Lower Normandy The Bishoprick of Lizieux p. 211. The Bishoprick of Seez p. 213. The Bishoprick of Bayeux p. 216. The Bishoprick of Constance or Coutance p. 220. The Bishoprick of Avranches p. 226. CHAP VIII Of Britanny p. 229. Of High Britanny The Bishoprick of Rennes p. 235. Of the Bishoprick of Dol. p. 238. Of the Bishoprick of St. Malo p. 239. Of the Bishoprick of St. Brieux p. 241. Of the Bishoprick of Nants p. 243. CHAP. IX Of Lower Britanny The Bishoprick of Vennes p. 248. Of the Bishoprick of Quimper-Corentin p. 252 Of the Bishoprick of Treguier p. 254. Of the Bishoprick of St. Pol De Leon. p. 256. CHAp X. Of the Government Orleanois p. 258 Of the Country of Maine or Le Maine p. 265. Of the Country of Perche or Le Perche p. 270. Of Beauce Proper Beauce p. 274 275. Of Vendomois p. 281. Of Anjou p. 283. Of Touraine p. 295. Of Blaisois p. 303. Of Proper Orleanois p. 312. Of Gastinois p. 324. Of Nivernois p. 331. CHAP. XI Of Orleanois on the South of the Loire Of Berry p. 338. Of Poictou p. 414. Of Aunis p. 435. Of Angoumois p. 439. Of the Islands depending on the Government Orleânois p. 441. CHAP. XII Of the Government of Guienne p. 443. Of Proper Guienne p. 448. Of Bazadois Of Agenois p. 450 451. Of Quercy p. 452. Of Rouergue p. 455. Of Limosin p. 459. Of Perigord p. 461. Of Saintonge p. 463. Of Armagnac p. 466 Of Chaloffe p. 469 Of Condomois p. 470. Of the Landes Of Lower Navarre p. 452 473 Of Soule Of Labourd p. 474 475 Of Beâân p. 477 Of the County of Bigorre p. 479 Of Comminge p. 481 Of Conferans p. 482 CHAP. XIII Of Languedoc p. 484 Of Toulousan p. 495 Of the Diocese of Toulouse p. 496 Of the Diocese of Montauban p. 508 Of the Diocese of La Vâur p. 510 Of Lauragais p. 512 Of Albigeois p. 515 Of the County of Foix. p. 522 CHAP. XIV Of Lower Languedoc Of the Precinct of Narbonne p. 527 Of the Precinct of Beziers p. 539 Of the Precinct of Nismes p. 545 CHAP. XV. Of the Cevennes p. 565 Of Vivarais p. 569 Of the Diocese of Uzès p. 562 Of Gevaudan p. 572 Of Velay p. 575 CHAP. XVI Of Provence p. 578 Of the Diocese of Aix p. 584 Of the Diocese of Riez p. 587 Of the Diocese of Senez p.
City This Ceremony has been instituted to attone for the pretended Crime of the Archdeacon Berenger who opposed Transubstantiation in its birth At the solicitation of some studious Persons Lewis XIV instituted lately a Royal Academy at Anger 's with the same prerogatives as that of Paris save the right of Committimus that is the Priviledge of bringing the Suits wherein its Members are concern'd before his Masters of Requests at the first motion This Academy is compos'd of 30 Members who must all be Angevin Men born or at least settled Inhabitants of Anjou They are not to meddle with Matters of Religion and Divinity nor with Politicks unless it be by the King's Directions nor to judge of any Composures besides their own They have four Officers a Director a Chancellor and two Secretaries The Bishop the King's Lieutenant in the City and Castle of Anger 's the President Lieutenant General and King's Attorney in the Presidial and the Mayor of the City may assist at their Assemblies thô not at the time of the Elections Going out of the Suburbs towards Saumur you meet at a place call'd Grehan with some remains of a Roman Amphitheatre and several Medals have been extracted thence The French Kings are Canons of this Church by their very Title to the Crown The most Ancient Bishop of this Church was one Defensor who has beeâ since related into the number of Saints and lived in the fourth Century Here are likewise many Collegiate Churches divers Parishes 3 Abbies viz. those of St. Aubin St. Nicholas and St. Sergius as also Monasteries and Seminaries and the Chappel of St. Saviour built in remembrance of a Victory gotten by the Inhabitants of Anjou on one Lord of St. Sauveur who together with the Normans had laid Siege to that City The Castle is flanked with 1â great round Towers and a half Moon and built upon a Rock with a large Ditch at the foot of it There is a rare Engine by which they may lift up such things as they stand in need of However in 1585. the Protestants master'd this Castle but were soon expell'd by the Inhabitants By reason of the strength of this place Prisoners of State are oft sent thither This City of Anger 's is governed by a Mayor and 24 Sheriffs The University founded in the Year 1â98 by Louis II. is famous for the Civil and Canon Law and has had famous Professors and bred up many Learned Scholars Anger 's lyes 17 leagues East N. E. of Nants 25 West of Tours and 66 South-west of Paris The Fathers of the Oratory have here a Colledge for Divinity and Philosophy Saumur is situated upon the River Loire about 10 leagues from Anger 's to the South-east it is as pleasant a place as can be seen and Strangers are mightily taken with it for the Town is seated at the foot of a Hill Wall'd iâ and defended with Towers but commanded by a Castle fortify'd with three Bastions lin'd with large square Stones The prospect of the Castle on the Loire and the neighbouring Plains is very delightful The strength of this p ace gives occasion to the Learned De Valois to derive its name from the Latin Salvari becauâe its Fortifications preserve its Inhabitants from the attempts of their Enemies so that Saumur should have been said for Sauf-mur and Salmurus for Salvus murus Saumur is a new Town being not much above six hundred years standing There is a Chappel under the Name of Our Lady des Ardillers which has been much frequented by reason of pretended Miracles but since the Reformation that Trade being much decay'd Saumur which was then but a small place would not have grown considerable had it not been given to the Protestants for one of their Towns of Security It 's in that Quality that Phillip du Pâessis Mornay was Governour there in Henry IV's time that famous Assertor of the Christian and Protestant Religion whose Works are still the admiration of the Learned and did so puzzle the Roman Catholicks of his time that they would needs have all the Ministers of France to have contributed to their Perfection But what drew most People to Saumur was a Protestant University for Divinity and humane Learning Here have flourished about the end of the last Age and the beginning of this that renown'd Scotch Divine J. Cameron who was succeeded by 3 Professors the like neither France nor perhaps Europe ever saw read by turns in one Chair viz. Lewis Cappel Moses Amyrauld and John de la Place as famous for their Learning as for their mutual Friendship At the same time liv'd that great Critick Tanneguy le Fevre who has left a Daughter yet living Heiress of his knowledge in the Greek and Roman Antiquities and Tongues as appears by her Translations and Commentaries Stephen Gaussen liv'd not long enough to shew his Parts but by four small Treatises we have of his it may be judg'd what great man he would have been had God been pleased to grant him longer to the French Protestants In 1684 Lewis XIV pull'd down this University which together with the following Persecution depopulated Saumur at that rate that it looks now as a Solitude to what it was be ore The Fathers of the Oratory have here a fine Colledg and the Church of St. Peter newly built is considerable A Mile from the Town are subterraneous Vaults reaching half a League in length La Fleche Flecchia or Fixa is situated upon the Loir towards the Frontiers of Maine being twelve Leagues from Anger 's to the North-East There is a very fine Colledg of Jesuits founded by Henry the IVth Anno 1603. It consists of three bodies of Lodgings capablâ to lâdge the King with all his Court The Heart of Henry the Fourth is buried in one of the Chappels under the Steps whereby they ascend the Altar according to his desire having order'd that the most noble Part of him after his death should be put in that Castle where he was conceived The Jesuits have another Colledg at Dole in the Franche-Conty at a place called Arc which gave occasion to this ingenious Distich alluding to the signification of Arc a Bow and la Fleche an Arrow Arcum Dola dedit Patribus dedit Alma sagittam Gallia quis funem quem meruere dabit Dole to the Fathers gave a Bow Kind France an Arrow gave Will none a String on them bestow They long deserv'd to have Lude Lusdum is situated on the River Loir about 14 Leagues from Anger 's to the North-East having the Title of a County since 600 years Pont de Se or Ponts de Ce Pons Sai or Pontes Caesaris is a Town and a Castle seated in an Island of the River Loire The Town consists of a long Street with a Bridge of half a Mile in length at each end towards Brissac and Anger 's from which it is at two Leagues distance Some pretend that these Bridges have been built by Caesar who kept here a